Southern Maine Community College vs Central Maine Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central Maine Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,448 against a $13,950 total, vs $41,661 at Southern Maine Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Maine Community College | Central Maine Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,086 | $6,975 |
| Total net cost | $22,172 | $13,950 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,661 | $42,448 |
| Median debt | $10,331 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$156,152 | -$132,190 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southern Maine Community College or Central Maine Community College?
Central Maine Community College, at $6,975 a year after aid versus $11,086 — a gap of $4,111 a year, or $8,222 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southern Maine Community College or Central Maine Community College graduates earn more?
Central Maine Community College graduates report a median $42,448 ten years after entry, $787 more than the $41,661 at Southern Maine 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, Southern Maine Community College or Central Maine Community College?
Southern Maine Community College: its completers carry a median $10,331 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Central Maine Community College, a difference of $1,669. 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 Central Maine Community College, against 28% at Southern Maine 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.