Head-to-head comparison
Keene State College vs Manchester Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Keene, NH
Keene State College
- Net price / year
- $17,887
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,368
- Payback
- 11.9 yrs
Option B Manchester, NH
Manchester Community College
- Net price / year
- $14,143
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,063
- Payback
- 40.2 yrs
Keene State College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $71,548 in 11.9 years versus 40.2 years at Manchester Community College, on median earnings of $54,368 vs $49,063 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Keene State College | Manchester Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,887 | $14,143 |
| Total net cost | $71,548 | $28,286 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,368 | $49,063 |
| Median debt | $25,749 | $15,060 |
| Payback | 11.9 yrs | 40.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $48,612 | -$14,226 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Keene State College or Manchester Community College?
Manchester Community College, at $14,143 a year after aid versus $17,887 — a gap of $3,744 a year, or $43,262 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 Keene State College or Manchester Community College graduates earn more?
Keene State College graduates report a median $54,368 ten years after entry, $5,305 more than the $49,063 at Manchester 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, Keene State College or Manchester Community College?
Manchester Community College: its completers carry a median $15,060 in federal loans versus $25,749 at Keene State College, a difference of $10,689. 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?
60% of students finish at Keene State College, against 41% at Manchester 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.