Mt Hood Community College vs Carrington College-Portland: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mt Hood Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,125 against a $15,642 total, vs $36,625 at Carrington College-Portland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mt Hood Community College | Carrington College-Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,821 | $36,595 |
| Total net cost | $15,642 | $146,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,125 | $36,625 |
| Median debt | $13,667 | $9,295 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$160,342 | -$381,080 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Mt Hood Community College or Carrington College-Portland?
Mt Hood Community College, at $7,821 a year after aid versus $36,595 — a gap of $28,774 a year, or $130,738 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Mt Hood Community College or Carrington College-Portland graduates earn more?
Mt Hood Community College graduates report a median $41,125 ten years after entry, $4,500 more than the $36,625 at Carrington College-Portland. 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, Mt Hood Community College or Carrington College-Portland?
Carrington College-Portland: its completers carry a median $9,295 in federal loans versus $13,667 at Mt Hood Community College, a difference of $4,372. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Carrington College-Portland, against 24% at Mt Hood 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.