Central Maine Community College vs Northern Maine Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northern Maine Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,348 against a $14,362 total, vs $42,448 at Central Maine Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Maine Community College | Northern Maine Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,975 | $7,181 |
| Total net cost | $13,950 | $14,362 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,448 | $43,348 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $10,825 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$132,190 | -$114,602 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Central Maine Community College or Northern Maine Community College?
Central Maine Community College, at $6,975 a year after aid versus $7,181 — a gap of $206 a year, or $412 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Central Maine Community College or Northern Maine Community College graduates earn more?
Northern Maine Community College graduates report a median $43,348 ten years after entry, $900 more than the $42,448 at Central Maine 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, Central Maine Community College or Northern Maine Community College?
Northern Maine Community College: its completers carry a median $10,825 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Central Maine Community College, a difference of $1,175. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Northern Maine Community College, against 30% at Central Maine 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.