North Shore Community College vs Cambridge College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Shore Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,391 against a $18,000 total, vs $45,998 at Cambridge College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Shore Community College | Cambridge College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,000 | $31,072 |
| Total net cost | $18,000 | $124,288 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,391 | $45,998 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $21,791 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$77,380 | -$171,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Shore Community College or Cambridge College?
North Shore Community College, at $9,000 a year after aid versus $31,072 — a gap of $22,072 a year, or $106,288 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do North Shore Community College or Cambridge College graduates earn more?
Cambridge College graduates report a median $45,998 ten years after entry, $607 more than the $45,391 at North Shore 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, North Shore Community College or Cambridge College?
North Shore Community College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $21,791 at Cambridge College, a difference of $12,791. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
18% of students finish at North Shore Community College, against 11% at Cambridge 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.