Is Century College Worth It?

Century College gives you a workable financial return if you pick the right program, but the school's biggest risk is finishing at all. Only 21% of students graduate, which means the debt and net price you take on are a gamble unless you're committed to completing your associate degree. Median debt of $14,250 stays close to a single year's net price, so the cost side is manageable by community college standards. The problem is that walking away without a credential leaves you paying for a return you never collect.

The programs that pay off here cluster in tech and healthcare. Computer/Information Technology Administration leads at roughly $58,700, and Registered Nursing follows close behind while carrying debt near the school median. HVAC maintenance is the standout on value: it pays around $53,800 while leaving you with the lowest debt of any top program, about $10,500. That combination of strong pay and low borrowing makes the trades your best financial bet at Century. Allied Health Diagnostic pays well too, but you borrow more to get there, so the margin is thinner.

The net price tiers reward lower-income families and penalize higher earners. If your family makes under $48k, you pay a few thousand less per year than families over $110k, who pay the full sticker closer to $14,400. That gap makes Century a stronger deal the less your family earns.

This school fits you if you want a nursing, IT, or HVAC credential and you're regionally rooted in the Twin Cities metro where those jobs sit. Look elsewhere if you're unsure of your program or likely to transfer out early, because the low completion rate turns your net price into money spent for nothing.