Big Bend Community College vs Paul Mitchell the School-Richland: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Big Bend Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,814 against a $24,420 total, vs $27,407 at Paul Mitchell the School-Richland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Big Bend Community College | Paul Mitchell the School-Richland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,210 | $26,617 |
| Total net cost | $24,420 | $106,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,814 | $27,407 |
| Median debt | $9,166 | $9,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$115,340 | -$525,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Big Bend Community College or Paul Mitchell the School-Richland?
Big Bend Community College, at $12,210 a year after aid versus $26,617 — a gap of $14,407 a year, or $82,048 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Big Bend Community College or Paul Mitchell the School-Richland graduates earn more?
Big Bend Community College graduates report a median $43,814 ten years after entry, $16,407 more than the $27,407 at Paul Mitchell the School-Richland. 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, Big Bend Community College or Paul Mitchell the School-Richland?
Big Bend Community College: its completers carry a median $9,166 in federal loans versus $9,917 at Paul Mitchell the School-Richland, a difference of $751. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Richland, against 42% at Big Bend 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.