Head-to-head comparison
Kennebec Valley Community College vs University of Maine at Farmington: 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 Farmington, ME
University of Maine at Farmington
- Net price / year
- $16,857
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,433
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Maine at Farmington comes closer — median earnings $44,433 against a $67,428 total, vs $36,035 at Kennebec Valley Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kennebec Valley Community College | University of Maine at Farmington |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,910 | $16,857 |
| Total net cost | $7,820 | $67,428 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,035 | $44,433 |
| Median debt | $13,255 | $24,499 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$254,320 | -$145,968 |
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 University of Maine at Farmington?
Kennebec Valley Community College, at $3,910 a year after aid versus $16,857 — a gap of $12,947 a year, or $59,608 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 University of Maine at Farmington graduates earn more?
University of Maine at Farmington graduates report a median $44,433 ten years after entry, $8,398 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 University of Maine at Farmington?
Kennebec Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $13,255 in federal loans versus $24,499 at University of Maine at Farmington, a difference of $11,244. 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?
52% of students finish at University of Maine at Farmington, 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.