Holmes Community College vs Copiah-Lincoln Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Holmes Community College comes closer — median earnings $32,922 against a $11,286 total, vs $31,241 at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Holmes Community College | Copiah-Lincoln Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,643 | $3,894 |
| Total net cost | $11,286 | $7,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,922 | $31,241 |
| Median debt | $9,274 | $7,435 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$320,046 | -$350,168 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Holmes Community College or Copiah-Lincoln Community College?
Copiah-Lincoln Community College, at $3,894 a year after aid versus $5,643 — a gap of $1,749 a year, or $3,498 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Holmes Community College or Copiah-Lincoln Community College graduates earn more?
Holmes Community College graduates report a median $32,922 ten years after entry, $1,681 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 leaves students with less debt, Holmes Community College or Copiah-Lincoln Community College?
Copiah-Lincoln Community College: its completers carry a median $7,435 in federal loans versus $9,274 at Holmes Community College, a difference of $1,839. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, against 39% at Holmes 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.