Central New Mexico Community College vs Brookline College-Albuquerque: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central New Mexico Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,869 against a $18,484 total, vs $29,576 at Brookline College-Albuquerque. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central New Mexico Community College | Brookline College-Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,621 | $37,459 |
| Total net cost | $18,484 | $149,836 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,869 | $29,576 |
| Median debt | $6,612 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$248,304 | -$525,516 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Central New Mexico Community College or Brookline College-Albuquerque?
Central New Mexico Community College, at $4,621 a year after aid versus $37,459 — a gap of $32,838 a year, or $131,352 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 New Mexico Community College or Brookline College-Albuquerque graduates earn more?
Central New Mexico Community College graduates report a median $36,869 ten years after entry, $7,293 more than the $29,576 at Brookline College-Albuquerque. 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 New Mexico Community College or Brookline College-Albuquerque?
Central New Mexico Community College: its completers carry a median $6,612 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Brookline College-Albuquerque, a difference of $2,888. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Brookline College-Albuquerque, against 31% at Central New Mexico 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.