Lewis & Clark College vs Reed College: which has better ROI?
Reed College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $132,052 in 9.1 years versus 10.4 years at Lewis & Clark College, on median earnings of $62,927 vs $62,205 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lewis & Clark College | Reed College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,013 | $33,013 |
| Total net cost | $144,052 | $132,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,205 | $62,927 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 10.4 yrs | 9.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $132,848 | $159,288 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lewis & Clark College or Reed College?
Reed College, at $33,013 a year after aid versus $36,013 — a gap of $3,000 a year, or $12,000 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lewis & Clark College or Reed College graduates earn more?
Reed College graduates report a median $62,927 ten years after entry, $722 more than the $62,205 at Lewis & Clark 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, Lewis & Clark College or Reed College?
Lewis & Clark College: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Reed College, a difference of $2,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at Lewis & Clark College, against 71% at Reed 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.