Community College of Rhode Island vs Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Community College of Rhode Island comes closer — median earnings $42,659 against a $13,026 total, vs $31,914 at Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Rhode Island | Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,513 | $27,578 |
| Total net cost | $13,026 | $110,312 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,659 | $31,914 |
| Median debt | $10,920 | $10,521 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$127,046 | -$439,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Community College of Rhode Island or Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln?
Community College of Rhode Island, at $6,513 a year after aid versus $27,578 — a gap of $21,065 a year, or $97,286 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Community College of Rhode Island or Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln graduates earn more?
Community College of Rhode Island graduates report a median $42,659 ten years after entry, $10,745 more than the $31,914 at Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln. 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, Community College of Rhode Island or Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln?
Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln: its completers carry a median $10,521 in federal loans versus $10,920 at Community College of Rhode Island, a difference of $399. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln, against 26% at Community College of Rhode Island. 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.