Eastern Maine Community College vs Thomas College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Thomas College comes closer — median earnings $44,991 against a $75,540 total, vs $41,704 at Eastern Maine Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern Maine Community College | Thomas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,928 | $18,885 |
| Total net cost | $17,856 | $75,540 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,704 | $44,991 |
| Median debt | $11,293 | $24,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,976 | -$142,920 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Eastern Maine Community College or Thomas College?
Eastern Maine Community College, at $8,928 a year after aid versus $18,885 — a gap of $9,957 a year, or $57,684 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 Thomas College graduates earn more?
Thomas College graduates report a median $44,991 ten years after entry, $3,287 more than the $41,704 at Eastern Maine 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, Eastern Maine Community College or Thomas College?
Eastern Maine Community College: its completers carry a median $11,293 in federal loans versus $24,250 at Thomas College, a difference of $12,957. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Thomas College, 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.