Mt Hood Community College vs Central Oregon Community College: 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 $38,940 at Central Oregon Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mt Hood Community College | Central Oregon Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,821 | $12,266 |
| Total net cost | $15,642 | $24,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,125 | $38,940 |
| Median debt | $13,667 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$160,342 | -$212,932 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Mt Hood Community College or Central Oregon Community College?
Mt Hood Community College, at $7,821 a year after aid versus $12,266 — a gap of $4,445 a year, or $8,890 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 Central Oregon Community College graduates earn more?
Mt Hood Community College graduates report a median $41,125 ten years after entry, $2,185 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, Mt Hood Community College or Central Oregon Community College?
Central Oregon Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $13,667 at Mt Hood Community College, a difference of $1,667. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
25% of students finish at Central Oregon Community College, 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.