Degree Dividend
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Clackamas Community College vs Sumner College: which has better ROI?

Public, Oregon City OR · vs · Private for-profit, Portland OR

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Clackamas Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,886 against a $15,710 total, vs $46,639 at Sumner College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureClackamas Community CollegeSumner College
Net price / yr$7,855$29,411
Total net cost$15,710$117,644
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,886$46,639
Median debt$11,992$16,500
Payback
20-year net return-$125,190-$152,064

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Clackamas Community College or Sumner College?

Clackamas Community College, at $7,855 a year after aid versus $29,411 — a gap of $21,556 a year, or $101,934 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 Sumner College graduates earn more?

Sumner College graduates report a median $46,639 ten years after entry, $3,753 more than the $42,886 at Clackamas 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, Clackamas Community College or Sumner College?

Clackamas Community College: its completers carry a median $11,992 in federal loans versus $16,500 at Sumner College, a difference of $4,508. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

83% of students finish at Sumner College, 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.

Clackamas Community College vs Sumner College: frequently asked questions

Is Clackamas Community College or Sumner College a better value?
Clackamas Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Clackamas Community College or Sumner College?
Clackamas Community College: $7,855/yr net price after aid versus $29,411/yr at Sumner College — a difference of $21,556 a year, or about $101,934 over four years.
Do Clackamas Community College or Sumner College graduates earn more?
Sumner College graduates earn a median $46,639 ten years after entry, versus $42,886 at Clackamas Community College — a $3,753 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.