Lake Michigan College vs Bay de Noc Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bay de Noc Community College comes closer — median earnings $35,090 against a $23,898 total, vs $34,466 at Lake Michigan College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake Michigan College | Bay de Noc Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,680 | $11,949 |
| Total net cost | $13,360 | $23,898 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,466 | $35,090 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $12,618 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$291,240 | -$289,298 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lake Michigan College or Bay de Noc Community College?
Lake Michigan College, at $6,680 a year after aid versus $11,949 — a gap of $5,269 a year, or $10,538 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lake Michigan College or Bay de Noc Community College graduates earn more?
Bay de Noc Community College graduates report a median $35,090 ten years after entry, $624 more than the $34,466 at Lake Michigan 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, Lake Michigan College or Bay de Noc Community College?
Lake Michigan College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $12,618 at Bay de Noc Community College, a difference of $3,618. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
30% of students finish at Bay de Noc Community College, against 22% at Lake Michigan 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.