Southwestern Oregon Community College vs Blue Mountain Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southwestern Oregon Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,349 against a $17,054 total, vs $38,375 at Blue Mountain Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern Oregon Community College | Blue Mountain Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,527 | $13,095 |
| Total net cost | $17,054 | $26,190 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,349 | $38,375 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$217,274 | -$225,890 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern Oregon Community College or Blue Mountain Community College?
Southwestern Oregon Community College, at $8,527 a year after aid versus $13,095 — a gap of $4,568 a year, or $9,136 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 Oregon Community College or Blue Mountain Community College graduates earn more?
Blue Mountain Community College graduates report a median $38,375 ten years after entry, $26 more than the $38,349 at Southwestern Oregon 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, Southwestern Oregon Community College or Blue Mountain Community College?
Completers at both borrow a median $12,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Southwestern Oregon Community College, against 30% at Blue Mountain 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.