Carrington College-Portland — ROI, Cost & Payback
Carrington College-Portland charges a net price of $36,595/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $146,380. Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,625, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Carrington College-Portland does not clear its cost — it ranks #36 of 38 Oregon colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $36,595/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $146,380 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $36,625 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$11,735/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $9,295 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$381,080 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Carrington College-Portland's own numbers. Net price $36,595 × 4 years = $146,380 total. Median earnings $36,625 fall $11,735 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $146,380 bill in about 14.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Carrington College-Portland students graduate with?
A median $9,295 in federal loans among completers, or 25% of the $36,625 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Carrington College-Portland students graduate?
54% finish their degree — 46% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $146,380 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $271,074 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Carrington College-Portland expensive compared with other Oregon colleges?
Its $36,595 net price runs $19,655 above the $16,940 median across the 38 Oregon colleges we profile, or $78,620 more across the full degree.