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Big Bend Community College vs Pima Medical Institute-Renton: which has better ROI?

Public, Moses Lake WA · vs · Private for-profit, Renton WA

The verdict

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 $38,673 at Pima Medical Institute-Renton. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBig Bend Community CollegePima Medical Institute-Renton
Net price / yr$12,210$31,578
Total net cost$24,420$126,312
Median earnings, 10 yrs$43,814$38,673
Median debt$9,166$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$115,340-$320,052

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

Which is cheaper, Big Bend Community College or Pima Medical Institute-Renton?

Big Bend Community College, at $12,210 a year after aid versus $31,578 — a gap of $19,368 a year, or $101,892 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 Pima Medical Institute-Renton graduates earn more?

Big Bend Community College graduates report a median $43,814 ten years after entry, $5,141 more than the $38,673 at Pima Medical Institute-Renton. 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 Pima Medical Institute-Renton?

Big Bend Community College: its completers carry a median $9,166 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Pima Medical Institute-Renton, a difference of $334. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

69% of students finish at Pima Medical Institute-Renton, 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.

Big Bend Community College vs Pima Medical Institute-Renton: frequently asked questions

Is Big Bend Community College or Pima Medical Institute-Renton a better value?
Big Bend 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, Big Bend Community College or Pima Medical Institute-Renton?
Big Bend Community College: $12,210/yr net price after aid versus $31,578/yr at Pima Medical Institute-Renton — a difference of $19,368 a year, or about $101,892 over four years.
Do Big Bend Community College or Pima Medical Institute-Renton graduates earn more?
Big Bend Community College graduates earn a median $43,814 ten years after entry, versus $38,673 at Pima Medical Institute-Renton — a $5,141 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.