Southwestern Michigan College vs Bay Mills Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southwestern Michigan College comes closer — median earnings $37,303 against a $11,956 total, vs $30,048 at Bay Mills Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern Michigan College | Bay Mills Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,978 | $3,073 |
| Total net cost | $11,956 | $12,292 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,303 | $30,048 |
| Median debt | $10,959 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$233,096 | -$378,532 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern Michigan College or Bay Mills Community College?
Bay Mills Community College, at $3,073 a year after aid versus $5,978 — a gap of $2,905 a year, or $336 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwestern Michigan College or Bay Mills Community College graduates earn more?
Southwestern Michigan College graduates report a median $37,303 ten years after entry, $7,255 more than the $30,048 at Bay Mills 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 graduates more of its students?
38% of students finish at Southwestern Michigan College, against 30% at Bay Mills 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.