Central Maine Community College vs University of Maine at Augusta: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central Maine Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,448 against a $13,950 total, vs $40,342 at University of Maine at Augusta. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Maine Community College | University of Maine at Augusta |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,975 | $10,924 |
| Total net cost | $13,950 | $43,696 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,448 | $40,342 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $22,734 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$132,190 | -$204,056 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Central Maine Community College or University of Maine at Augusta?
Central Maine Community College, at $6,975 a year after aid versus $10,924 — a gap of $3,949 a year, or $29,746 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 University of Maine at Augusta graduates earn more?
Central Maine Community College graduates report a median $42,448 ten years after entry, $2,106 more than the $40,342 at University of Maine at Augusta. 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 University of Maine at Augusta?
Central Maine Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $22,734 at University of Maine at Augusta, a difference of $10,734. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
30% of students finish at Central Maine Community College, against 27% at University of Maine at Augusta. 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.