Head-to-head comparison
Kennebec Valley Community College vs Thomas College: which has better ROI?
Option A Fairfield, ME
Kennebec Valley Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,910
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,035
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Waterville, ME
Thomas College
- Net price / year
- $18,885
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,991
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Thomas College comes closer — median earnings $44,991 against a $75,540 total, vs $36,035 at Kennebec Valley Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kennebec Valley Community College | Thomas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,910 | $18,885 |
| Total net cost | $7,820 | $75,540 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,035 | $44,991 |
| Median debt | $13,255 | $24,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$254,320 | -$142,920 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Kennebec Valley Community College or Thomas College?
Kennebec Valley Community College, at $3,910 a year after aid versus $18,885 — a gap of $14,975 a year, or $67,720 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 Kennebec Valley Community College or Thomas College graduates earn more?
Thomas College graduates report a median $44,991 ten years after entry, $8,956 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Kennebec Valley Community College or Thomas College?
Kennebec Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $13,255 in federal loans versus $24,250 at Thomas College, a difference of $10,995. 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?
54% of students finish at Thomas College, against 39% at Kennebec Valley 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.