Truckee Meadows Community College vs Carrington College-Reno: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Truckee Meadows Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,573 against a $33,248 total, vs $43,731 at Carrington College-Reno. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Truckee Meadows Community College | Carrington College-Reno |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,312 | $51,823 |
| Total net cost | $33,248 | $103,646 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,573 | $43,731 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $15,188 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$108,988 | -$196,226 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Truckee Meadows Community College or Carrington College-Reno?
Truckee Meadows Community College, at $8,312 a year after aid versus $51,823 — a gap of $43,511 a year, or $70,398 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Truckee Meadows Community College or Carrington College-Reno graduates earn more?
Truckee Meadows Community College graduates report a median $44,573 ten years after entry, $842 more than the $43,731 at Carrington College-Reno. 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, Truckee Meadows Community College or Carrington College-Reno?
Truckee Meadows Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $15,188 at Carrington College-Reno, a difference of $4,188. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Carrington College-Reno, against 32% at Truckee Meadows 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.