Portland Community College vs Clatsop Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Portland Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,592 against a $20,810 total, vs $39,477 at Clatsop Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Portland Community College | Clatsop Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,405 | $10,548 |
| Total net cost | $20,810 | $21,096 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,592 | $39,477 |
| Median debt | $12,999 | $11,602 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$96,170 | -$198,756 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Portland Community College or Clatsop Community College?
Portland Community College, at $10,405 a year after aid versus $10,548 — a gap of $143 a year, or $286 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Portland Community College or Clatsop Community College graduates earn more?
Portland Community College graduates report a median $44,592 ten years after entry, $5,115 more than the $39,477 at Clatsop 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, Portland Community College or Clatsop Community College?
Clatsop Community College: its completers carry a median $11,602 in federal loans versus $12,999 at Portland Community College, a difference of $1,397. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
29% of students finish at Clatsop Community College, against 18% at Portland 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.