Dartmouth College vs Lakes Region Community College: which has better ROI?
Dartmouth College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,076 in 2.4 years versus 9.3 years at Lakes Region Community College, on median earnings of $97,434 vs $51,182 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dartmouth College | Lakes Region Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,519 | $13,124 |
| Total net cost | $118,076 | $26,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $97,434 | $51,182 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $18,525 |
| Payback | 2.4 yrs | 9.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $863,404 | $30,192 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Dartmouth College or Lakes Region Community College?
Lakes Region Community College, at $13,124 a year after aid versus $29,519 — a gap of $16,395 a year, or $91,828 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Dartmouth College or Lakes Region Community College graduates earn more?
Dartmouth College graduates report a median $97,434 ten years after entry, $46,252 more than the $51,182 at Lakes Region 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, Dartmouth College or Lakes Region Community College?
Dartmouth College: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $18,525 at Lakes Region Community College, a difference of $1,025. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
96% of students finish at Dartmouth College, against 46% at Lakes Region 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.