Clackamas Community College vs Carrington College-Portland: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Clackamas Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,886 against a $15,710 total, vs $36,625 at Carrington College-Portland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clackamas Community College | Carrington College-Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,855 | $36,595 |
| Total net cost | $15,710 | $146,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,886 | $36,625 |
| Median debt | $11,992 | $9,295 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$125,190 | -$381,080 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Clackamas Community College or Carrington College-Portland?
Clackamas Community College, at $7,855 a year after aid versus $36,595 — a gap of $28,740 a year, or $130,670 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Clackamas Community College or Carrington College-Portland graduates earn more?
Clackamas Community College graduates report a median $42,886 ten years after entry, $6,261 more than the $36,625 at Carrington College-Portland. 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, Clackamas Community College or Carrington College-Portland?
Carrington College-Portland: its completers carry a median $9,295 in federal loans versus $11,992 at Clackamas Community College, a difference of $2,697. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Carrington College-Portland, against 23% at Clackamas 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.