Yakima Valley College vs Big Bend Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Big Bend Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,814 against a $24,420 total, vs $43,499 at Yakima Valley College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Yakima Valley College | Big Bend Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,843 | $12,210 |
| Total net cost | $23,686 | $24,420 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,499 | $43,814 |
| Median debt | $13,966 | $9,166 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$120,906 | -$115,340 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Yakima Valley College or Big Bend Community College?
Yakima Valley College, at $11,843 a year after aid versus $12,210 — a gap of $367 a year, or $734 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Yakima Valley College or Big Bend Community College graduates earn more?
Big Bend Community College graduates report a median $43,814 ten years after entry, $315 more than the $43,499 at Yakima Valley 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, Yakima Valley College or Big Bend Community College?
Big Bend Community College: its completers carry a median $9,166 in federal loans versus $13,966 at Yakima Valley College, a difference of $4,800. 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 Big Bend Community College, against 29% at Yakima Valley 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.