Centralia College vs Big Bend Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Big Bend Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,814 against a $24,420 total, vs $43,140 at Centralia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Centralia College | Big Bend Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,862 | $12,210 |
| Total net cost | $19,724 | $24,420 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,140 | $43,814 |
| Median debt | — | $9,166 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$124,124 | -$115,340 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Centralia College or Big Bend Community College?
Centralia College, at $9,862 a year after aid versus $12,210 — a gap of $2,348 a year, or $4,696 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Centralia College or Big Bend Community College graduates earn more?
Big Bend Community College graduates report a median $43,814 ten years after entry, $674 more than the $43,140 at Centralia 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 graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Centralia College, against 42% at Big Bend 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.