Degree Dividend
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Bay de Noc Community College vs Montcalm Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Escanaba MI · vs · Public, Sidney MI

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Montcalm Community College comes closer — median earnings $35,499 against a $14,560 total, vs $35,090 at Bay de Noc Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBay de Noc Community CollegeMontcalm Community College
Net price / yr$11,949$7,280
Total net cost$23,898$14,560
Median earnings, 10 yrs$35,090$35,499
Median debt$12,618$16,500
Payback
20-year net return-$289,298-$271,780

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Bay de Noc Community College or Montcalm Community College?

Montcalm Community College, at $7,280 a year after aid versus $11,949 — a gap of $4,669 a year, or $9,338 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Bay de Noc Community College or Montcalm Community College graduates earn more?

Montcalm Community College graduates report a median $35,499 ten years after entry, $409 more than the $35,090 at Bay de Noc Community College. 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.

Which leaves students with less debt, Bay de Noc Community College or Montcalm Community College?

Bay de Noc Community College: its completers carry a median $12,618 in federal loans versus $16,500 at Montcalm Community College, a difference of $3,882. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

31% of students finish at Montcalm Community College, against 30% at Bay de Noc 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.

Bay de Noc Community College vs Montcalm Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Bay de Noc Community College or Montcalm Community College a better value?
Montcalm Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Bay de Noc Community College or Montcalm Community College?
Montcalm Community College: $7,280/yr net price after aid versus $11,949/yr at Bay de Noc Community College — a difference of $4,669 a year, or about $9,338 over four years.
Do Bay de Noc Community College or Montcalm Community College graduates earn more?
Montcalm Community College graduates earn a median $35,499 ten years after entry, versus $35,090 at Bay de Noc Community College — a $409 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.