Carroll Community College vs Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carroll Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,349 against a $5,450 total, vs $38,683 at Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carroll Community College | Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,725 | $34,306 |
| Total net cost | $5,450 | $137,224 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,349 | $38,683 |
| Median debt | $11,750 | $11,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$85,670 | -$330,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Carroll Community College or Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia?
Carroll Community College, at $2,725 a year after aid versus $34,306 — a gap of $31,581 a year, or $131,774 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Carroll Community College or Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia graduates earn more?
Carroll Community College graduates report a median $44,349 ten years after entry, $5,666 more than the $38,683 at Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia. 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, Carroll Community College or Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia?
Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia: its completers carry a median $11,250 in federal loans versus $11,750 at Carroll Community College, a difference of $500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia, against 39% at Carroll 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.