South Puget Sound Community College vs Big Bend Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South Puget Sound Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,039 against a $18,264 total, vs $43,814 at Big Bend Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Puget Sound Community College | Big Bend Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,132 | $12,210 |
| Total net cost | $18,264 | $24,420 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,039 | $43,814 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $9,166 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$84,684 | -$115,340 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South Puget Sound Community College or Big Bend Community College?
South Puget Sound Community College, at $9,132 a year after aid versus $12,210 — a gap of $3,078 a year, or $6,156 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do South Puget Sound Community College or Big Bend Community College graduates earn more?
South Puget Sound Community College graduates report a median $45,039 ten years after entry, $1,225 more than the $43,814 at Big Bend 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, South Puget Sound Community College or Big Bend Community College?
Big Bend Community College: its completers carry a median $9,166 in federal loans versus $11,000 at South Puget Sound Community College, a difference of $1,834. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at South Puget Sound Community College, against 42% at Big Bend 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.