Eastern Maine Community College vs Beal University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Eastern Maine Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,704 against a $17,856 total, vs $35,639 at Beal University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern Maine Community College | Beal University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,928 | $40,109 |
| Total net cost | $17,856 | $80,218 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,704 | $35,639 |
| Median debt | $11,293 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,976 | -$334,638 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Eastern Maine Community College or Beal University?
Eastern Maine Community College, at $8,928 a year after aid versus $40,109 — a gap of $31,181 a year, or $62,362 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Eastern Maine Community College or Beal University graduates earn more?
Eastern Maine Community College graduates report a median $41,704 ten years after entry, $6,065 more than the $35,639 at Beal University. 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, Eastern Maine Community College or Beal University?
Eastern Maine Community College: its completers carry a median $11,293 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Beal University, a difference of $8,207. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
36% of students finish at Beal University, against 32% at Eastern Maine 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.