Linn-Benton Community College vs Clackamas Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Clackamas Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,886 against a $15,710 total, vs $41,363 at Linn-Benton Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Linn-Benton Community College | Clackamas Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,553 | $7,855 |
| Total net cost | $23,106 | $15,710 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,363 | $42,886 |
| Median debt | $11,961 | $11,992 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$163,046 | -$125,190 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Linn-Benton Community College or Clackamas Community College?
Clackamas Community College, at $7,855 a year after aid versus $11,553 — a gap of $3,698 a year, or $7,396 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 Clackamas Community College graduates earn more?
Clackamas Community College graduates report a median $42,886 ten years after entry, $1,523 more than the $41,363 at Linn-Benton 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 Clackamas Community College?
Linn-Benton Community College: its completers carry a median $11,961 in federal loans versus $11,992 at Clackamas Community College, a difference of $31. 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 23% at Clackamas 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.