Copiah-Lincoln Community College vs Southwest Mississippi Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southwest Mississippi Community College comes closer — median earnings $33,227 against a $5,050 total, vs $31,241 at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Copiah-Lincoln Community College | Southwest Mississippi Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,894 | $2,525 |
| Total net cost | $7,788 | $5,050 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,241 | $33,227 |
| Median debt | $7,435 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$350,168 | -$307,710 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Copiah-Lincoln Community College or Southwest Mississippi Community College?
Southwest Mississippi Community College, at $2,525 a year after aid versus $3,894 — a gap of $1,369 a year, or $2,738 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Copiah-Lincoln Community College or Southwest Mississippi Community College graduates earn more?
Southwest Mississippi Community College graduates report a median $33,227 ten years after entry, $1,986 more than the $31,241 at Copiah-Lincoln 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 graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at Southwest Mississippi Community College, against 50% at Copiah-Lincoln 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.