East Central Community College vs Blue Cliff College-Gulfport: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but East Central Community College comes closer — median earnings $32,421 against a $10,480 total, vs $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Gulfport. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | East Central Community College | Blue Cliff College-Gulfport |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,240 | $8,252 |
| Total net cost | $10,480 | $33,008 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,421 | $22,177 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$329,260 | -$556,668 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, East Central Community College or Blue Cliff College-Gulfport?
East Central Community College, at $5,240 a year after aid versus $8,252 — a gap of $3,012 a year, or $22,528 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do East Central Community College or Blue Cliff College-Gulfport graduates earn more?
East Central Community College graduates report a median $32,421 ten years after entry, $10,244 more than the $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Gulfport. 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, East Central Community College or Blue Cliff College-Gulfport?
East Central Community College: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Blue Cliff College-Gulfport, a difference of $4,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Blue Cliff College-Gulfport, against 36% at East Central 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.