Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Oakland Community College vs Bay de Noc Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Auburn Hills MI · vs · Public, Escanaba MI

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Oakland Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,395 against a $11,554 total, vs $35,090 at Bay de Noc Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureOakland Community CollegeBay de Noc Community College
Net price / yr$5,777$11,949
Total net cost$11,554$23,898
Median earnings, 10 yrs$37,395$35,090
Median debt$9,105$12,618
Payback
20-year net return-$230,854-$289,298

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

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

Oakland Community College, at $5,777 a year after aid versus $11,949 — a gap of $6,172 a year, or $12,344 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

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

Oakland Community College graduates report a median $37,395 ten years after entry, $2,305 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, Oakland Community College or Bay de Noc Community College?

Oakland Community College: its completers carry a median $9,105 in federal loans versus $12,618 at Bay de Noc Community College, a difference of $3,513. 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 21% at Oakland 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.

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

Is Oakland Community College or Bay de Noc Community College a better value?
Oakland 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, Oakland Community College or Bay de Noc Community College?
Oakland Community College: $5,777/yr net price after aid versus $11,949/yr at Bay de Noc Community College — a difference of $6,172 a year, or about $12,344 over four years.
Do Oakland Community College or Bay de Noc Community College graduates earn more?
Oakland Community College graduates earn a median $37,395 ten years after entry, versus $35,090 at Bay de Noc Community College — a $2,305 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.