Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Blue Mountain Community College vs Sumner College: which has better ROI?

Public, Pendleton OR · vs · Private for-profit, Portland OR

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Sumner College comes closer — median earnings $46,639 against a $117,644 total, vs $38,375 at Blue Mountain Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureBlue Mountain Community CollegeSumner College
Net price / yr$13,095$29,411
Total net cost$26,190$117,644
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,375$46,639
Median debt$12,000$16,500
Payback
20-year net return-$225,890-$152,064

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

Which is cheaper, Blue Mountain Community College or Sumner College?

Blue Mountain Community College, at $13,095 a year after aid versus $29,411 — a gap of $16,316 a year, or $91,454 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Blue Mountain Community College or Sumner College graduates earn more?

Sumner College graduates report a median $46,639 ten years after entry, $8,264 more than the $38,375 at Blue Mountain 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, Blue Mountain Community College or Sumner College?

Blue Mountain Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $16,500 at Sumner College, a difference of $4,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

83% of students finish at Sumner College, against 30% at Blue Mountain 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.

Blue Mountain Community College vs Sumner College: frequently asked questions

Is Blue Mountain Community College or Sumner College a better value?
Sumner 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, Blue Mountain Community College or Sumner College?
Blue Mountain Community College: $13,095/yr net price after aid versus $29,411/yr at Sumner College — a difference of $16,316 a year, or about $91,454 over four years.
Do Blue Mountain Community College or Sumner College graduates earn more?
Sumner College graduates earn a median $46,639 ten years after entry, versus $38,375 at Blue Mountain Community College — a $8,264 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.