Degree Dividend
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Muskegon Community College vs Bay de Noc Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Muskegon MI · vs · Public, Escanaba MI

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Muskegon Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,549 against a $8,010 total, vs $35,090 at Bay de Noc Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureMuskegon Community CollegeBay de Noc Community College
Net price / yr$4,005$11,949
Total net cost$8,010$23,898
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,549$35,090
Median debt$9,125$12,618
Payback
20-year net return-$244,230-$289,298

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Muskegon Community College or Bay de Noc Community College?

Muskegon Community College, at $4,005 a year after aid versus $11,949 — a gap of $7,944 a year, or $15,888 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Muskegon Community College or Bay de Noc Community College graduates earn more?

Muskegon Community College graduates report a median $36,549 ten years after entry, $1,459 more than the $35,090 at Bay de Noc 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, Muskegon Community College or Bay de Noc Community College?

Muskegon Community College: its completers carry a median $9,125 in federal loans versus $12,618 at Bay de Noc Community College, a difference of $3,493. 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 Bay de Noc Community College, against 28% at Muskegon 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.

Muskegon Community College vs Bay de Noc Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Muskegon Community College or Bay de Noc Community College a better value?
Muskegon Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Muskegon Community College or Bay de Noc Community College?
Muskegon Community College: $4,005/yr net price after aid versus $11,949/yr at Bay de Noc Community College — a difference of $7,944 a year, or about $15,888 over four years.
Do Muskegon Community College or Bay de Noc Community College graduates earn more?
Muskegon Community College graduates earn a median $36,549 ten years after entry, versus $35,090 at Bay de Noc Community College — a $1,459 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.