Portland Community College vs Lewis & Clark College: which has better ROI?
Lewis & Clark College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,052 in 10.4 years versus not at all at Portland Community College, on median earnings of $62,205 vs $44,592 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Portland Community College | Lewis & Clark College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,405 | $36,013 |
| Total net cost | $20,810 | $144,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,592 | $62,205 |
| Median debt | $12,999 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | 10.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$96,170 | $132,848 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Portland Community College or Lewis & Clark College?
Portland Community College, at $10,405 a year after aid versus $36,013 — a gap of $25,608 a year, or $123,242 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 Lewis & Clark College graduates earn more?
Lewis & Clark College graduates report a median $62,205 ten years after entry, $17,613 more than the $44,592 at Portland 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 Lewis & Clark College?
Portland Community College: its completers carry a median $12,999 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Lewis & Clark College, a difference of $6,501. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at Lewis & Clark 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.