Head-to-head comparison
Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology vs Allen County Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Wichita, KS
Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
- Net price / year
- $8,805
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,679
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Iola, KS
Allen County Community College
- Net price / year
- $8,642
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,059
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Allen County Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,059 against a $17,284 total, vs $38,679 at Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology | Allen County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,805 | $8,642 |
| Total net cost | $35,220 | $17,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,679 | $40,059 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $6,954 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$228,840 | -$183,304 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology or Allen County Community College?
Allen County Community College, at $8,642 a year after aid versus $8,805 — a gap of $163 a year, or $17,936 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 Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology or Allen County Community College graduates earn more?
Allen County Community College graduates report a median $40,059 ten years after entry, $1,380 more than the $38,679 at Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology. 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, Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology or Allen County Community College?
Allen County Community College: its completers carry a median $6,954 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, a difference of $2,546. 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?
43% of students finish at Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, against 37% at Allen County 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.