University of Maine at Augusta vs Kennebec Valley Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Maine at Augusta comes closer — median earnings $40,342 against a $43,696 total, vs $36,035 at Kennebec Valley Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Maine at Augusta | Kennebec Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,924 | $3,910 |
| Total net cost | $43,696 | $7,820 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,342 | $36,035 |
| Median debt | $22,734 | $13,255 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,056 | -$254,320 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Maine at Augusta or Kennebec Valley Community College?
Kennebec Valley Community College, at $3,910 a year after aid versus $10,924 — a gap of $7,014 a year, or $35,876 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Maine at Augusta or Kennebec Valley Community College graduates earn more?
University of Maine at Augusta graduates report a median $40,342 ten years after entry, $4,307 more than the $36,035 at Kennebec Valley 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, University of Maine at Augusta or Kennebec Valley Community College?
Kennebec Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $13,255 in federal loans versus $22,734 at University of Maine at Augusta, a difference of $9,479. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Kennebec Valley Community College, against 27% at University of Maine at Augusta. 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.