Southwestern Oregon Community College vs Clatsop Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Clatsop Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,477 against a $21,096 total, vs $38,349 at Southwestern Oregon Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern Oregon Community College | Clatsop Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,527 | $10,548 |
| Total net cost | $17,054 | $21,096 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,349 | $39,477 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $11,602 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$217,274 | -$198,756 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern Oregon Community College or Clatsop Community College?
Southwestern Oregon Community College, at $8,527 a year after aid versus $10,548 — a gap of $2,021 a year, or $4,042 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 Clatsop Community College graduates earn more?
Clatsop Community College graduates report a median $39,477 ten years after entry, $1,128 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 Clatsop Community College?
Clatsop Community College: its completers carry a median $11,602 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Southwestern Oregon Community College, a difference of $398. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Southwestern Oregon Community College, against 29% at Clatsop 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.