Head-to-head comparison
Central Maine Community College vs York County Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Auburn, ME
Central Maine Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,975
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,448
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Wells, ME
York County Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,875
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,873
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but York County Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,873 against a $11,750 total, vs $42,448 at Central Maine Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Maine Community College | York County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,975 | $5,875 |
| Total net cost | $13,950 | $11,750 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,448 | $44,873 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $8,861 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$132,190 | -$81,490 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Central Maine Community College or York County Community College?
York County Community College, at $5,875 a year after aid versus $6,975 — a gap of $1,100 a year, or $2,200 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Central Maine Community College or York County Community College graduates earn more?
York County Community College graduates report a median $44,873 ten years after entry, $2,425 more than the $42,448 at Central Maine 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Central Maine Community College or York County Community College?
York County Community College: its completers carry a median $8,861 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Central Maine Community College, a difference of $3,139. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
34% of students finish at York County Community College, against 30% at Central 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.