Central Oregon Community College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Central Oregon Community College charges a net price of $12,266/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $24,532. Median earnings ten years after entry are $38,940, 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, Central Oregon Community College does not clear its cost — it ranks #27 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) | $12,266/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $24,532 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $38,940 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$9,420/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$212,932 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Central Oregon Community College's own numbers. Net price $12,266 × 2 years = $24,532 total. Median earnings $38,940 fall $9,420 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 $24,532 bill in about 2.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Central Oregon Community College students graduate with?
A median $12,000 in federal loans among completers, or 31% of the $38,940 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Central Oregon Community College students graduate?
25% finish their degree — 75% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $24,532 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $98,128 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Central Oregon Community College expensive compared with other Oregon colleges?
Its $12,266 net price runs $4,674 below the $16,940 median across the 38 Oregon colleges we profile, and $9,348 less across the full degree.