Head-to-head comparison
Washtenaw Community College vs College for Creative Studies: which has better ROI?
Option A Ann Arbor, MI
Washtenaw Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,249
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,449
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Detroit, MI
College for Creative Studies
- Net price / year
- $34,617
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,860
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Washtenaw Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,449 against a $12,996 total, vs $44,860 at College for Creative Studies. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Washtenaw Community College | College for Creative Studies |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,249 | $34,617 |
| Total net cost | $12,996 | $138,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,449 | $44,860 |
| Median debt | $13,310 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$191,216 | -$208,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Washtenaw Community College or College for Creative Studies?
Washtenaw Community College, at $3,249 a year after aid versus $34,617 — a gap of $31,368 a year, or $125,472 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Washtenaw Community College or College for Creative Studies graduates earn more?
College for Creative Studies graduates report a median $44,860 ten years after entry, $5,411 more than the $39,449 at Washtenaw Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Washtenaw Community College or College for Creative Studies?
Washtenaw Community College: its completers carry a median $13,310 in federal loans versus $26,000 at College for Creative Studies, a difference of $12,690. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at College for Creative Studies, against 33% at Washtenaw Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.