Degree Dividend
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Sumner College vs Clatsop Community College: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Portland OR · vs · Public, Astoria OR

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Sumner College comes closer — median earnings $46,639 against a $117,644 total, vs $39,477 at Clatsop Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureSumner CollegeClatsop Community College
Net price / yr$29,411$10,548
Total net cost$117,644$21,096
Median earnings, 10 yrs$46,639$39,477
Median debt$16,500$11,602
Payback
20-year net return-$152,064-$198,756

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Sumner College or Clatsop Community College?

Clatsop Community College, at $10,548 a year after aid versus $29,411 — a gap of $18,863 a year, or $96,548 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Sumner College or Clatsop Community College graduates earn more?

Sumner College graduates report a median $46,639 ten years after entry, $7,162 more than the $39,477 at Clatsop 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, Sumner College or Clatsop Community College?

Clatsop Community College: its completers carry a median $11,602 in federal loans versus $16,500 at Sumner College, a difference of $4,898. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

83% of students finish at Sumner 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.

Sumner College vs Clatsop Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Sumner College or Clatsop Community College a better value?
Sumner College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Sumner College or Clatsop Community College?
Clatsop Community College: $10,548/yr net price after aid versus $29,411/yr at Sumner College — a difference of $18,863 a year, or about $96,548 over four years.
Do Sumner College or Clatsop Community College graduates earn more?
Sumner College graduates earn a median $46,639 ten years after entry, versus $39,477 at Clatsop Community College — a $7,162 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.