At $6,602/yr net price, Mid-Plains Community College graduates earn $40,059/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $6,059/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $6,602 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $26,408 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,059/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$6,059/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 45.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $9,995 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $4,448/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $3,578/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,659/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,446/yr |
| $110,001+ | $10,250/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $51,482 | $15,515 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Associate | $29,322 | |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services. | Associate | $26,933 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate | $25,194 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $18,315 | $6,500 |
The Risk Factor
45.6% of students at Mid-Plains Community College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Mid-Plains Community College gives you a low-cost, low-debt path with returns that hinge almost entirely on what you study. The net price sits well below most four-year schools, and median debt of under $10,000 means you leave with a car loan rather than a mortgage. But the median earnings ten years out land near $40,000, so the payoff is real only in specific programs.
Nursing is the clear winner here. Registered Nursing graduates earn roughly $51,000, about double what Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates make. That gap tells you almost everything about which door to walk through. The nursing debt load runs higher than other programs, but the earnings justify it, and North Platte's regional hospitals and rural Nebraska's chronic need for nurses give you a place to actually use the credential.
The vehicle maintenance and business tracks pay in the high $20,000s. Those are steady trades and office roles, not paths to strong earnings, though the low cost keeps them from being a bad bet. Liberal Arts at $18,000 is the danger zone. It carries low debt, but as a terminal associate degree it barely clears what you'd earn without it. Treat it as a transfer step toward a four-year degree, not a finish line.
The main financial risk is the 45% graduation rate. If you don't finish, you carry cost with no credential to show for it. On price, families earning under $48,000 pay the least, around $3,500 to $4,500 a year, while families above $110,000 pay closer to $10,000. Either way the numbers stay modest.
Come here for nursing or to transfer cheaply. If you want a bachelor's-level career and plan to stop at the associate, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mid-Plains Community College worth the cost?
Mid-Plains Community College offers decent value with a low net price of $6,602 per year and manageable debt of $9,995. However, the 45.6% graduation rate means many students don't finish, which hurts overall return on investment.
What are the best paying programs at Mid-Plains Community College?
Nursing programs at Mid-Plains Community College lead to the highest earnings at $51,482 annually, making them the clear best value. Vehicle maintenance pays $29,322, while liberal arts graduates earn just $18,315.
How much debt do Mid-Plains Community College graduates have?
Mid-Plains Community College graduates carry a median debt of $9,995, which is relatively low for higher education. This manageable debt load helps improve the school's overall value proposition.
Do Mid-Plains Community College graduates get good jobs?
Mid-Plains Community College graduates earn $40,059 ten years after starting school, which is reasonable given the low cost. Nursing graduates do much better financially, while liberal arts graduates struggle with lower wages.