Linn-Benton Community College vs Blue Mountain Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Linn-Benton Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,363 against a $23,106 total, vs $38,375 at Blue Mountain Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Linn-Benton Community College | Blue Mountain Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,553 | $13,095 |
| Total net cost | $23,106 | $26,190 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,363 | $38,375 |
| Median debt | $11,961 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$163,046 | -$225,890 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Linn-Benton Community College or Blue Mountain Community College?
Linn-Benton Community College, at $11,553 a year after aid versus $13,095 — a gap of $1,542 a year, or $3,084 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Linn-Benton Community College or Blue Mountain Community College graduates earn more?
Linn-Benton Community College graduates report a median $41,363 ten years after entry, $2,988 more than the $38,375 at Blue Mountain 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, Linn-Benton Community College or Blue Mountain Community College?
Linn-Benton Community College: its completers carry a median $11,961 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Blue Mountain Community College, a difference of $39. 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 Blue Mountain Community College, against 29% at Linn-Benton 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.