Unity Environmental University vs Southern Maine Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southern Maine Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,661 against a $22,172 total, vs $37,852 at Unity Environmental University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Unity Environmental University | Southern Maine Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,104 | $11,086 |
| Total net cost | $76,416 | $22,172 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,852 | $41,661 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $10,331 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$286,576 | -$156,152 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Unity Environmental University or Southern Maine Community College?
Southern Maine Community College, at $11,086 a year after aid versus $19,104 — a gap of $8,018 a year, or $54,244 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Unity Environmental University or Southern Maine Community College graduates earn more?
Southern Maine Community College graduates report a median $41,661 ten years after entry, $3,809 more than the $37,852 at Unity Environmental University. 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, Unity Environmental University or Southern Maine Community College?
Southern Maine Community College: its completers carry a median $10,331 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Unity Environmental University, a difference of $14,669. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
29% of students finish at Unity Environmental University, against 28% at Southern Maine 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.