Linn-Benton Community College vs Central Oregon 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 $38,940 at Central Oregon Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Linn-Benton Community College | Central Oregon Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,553 | $12,266 |
| Total net cost | $23,106 | $24,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,363 | $38,940 |
| Median debt | $11,961 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$163,046 | -$212,932 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Linn-Benton Community College or Central Oregon Community College?
Linn-Benton Community College, at $11,553 a year after aid versus $12,266 — a gap of $713 a year, or $1,426 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 Central Oregon Community College graduates earn more?
Linn-Benton Community College graduates report a median $41,363 ten years after entry, $2,423 more than the $38,940 at Central Oregon 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 Central Oregon Community College?
Linn-Benton Community College: its completers carry a median $11,961 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Central Oregon 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?
29% of students finish at Linn-Benton Community College, against 25% at Central Oregon 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.