Columbia Gorge Community College vs Carrington College-Portland: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia Gorge Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,440 against a $20,832 total, vs $36,625 at Carrington College-Portland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia Gorge Community College | Carrington College-Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,416 | $36,595 |
| Total net cost | $20,832 | $146,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,440 | $36,625 |
| Median debt | $19,397 | $9,295 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$99,232 | -$381,080 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia Gorge Community College or Carrington College-Portland?
Columbia Gorge Community College, at $10,416 a year after aid versus $36,595 — a gap of $26,179 a year, or $125,548 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbia Gorge Community College or Carrington College-Portland graduates earn more?
Columbia Gorge Community College graduates report a median $44,440 ten years after entry, $7,815 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, Columbia Gorge Community College or Carrington College-Portland?
Carrington College-Portland: its completers carry a median $9,295 in federal loans versus $19,397 at Columbia Gorge Community College, a difference of $10,102. 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 29% at Columbia Gorge 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.