Head-to-head comparison
Manchester Community College vs Lakes Region Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Manchester, NH
Manchester Community College
- Net price / year
- $14,143
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,063
- Payback
- 40.2 yrs
Option B Laconia, NH
Lakes Region Community College
- Net price / year
- $13,124
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,182
- Payback
- 9.3 yrs
Lakes Region Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $26,248 in 9.3 years versus 40.2 years at Manchester Community College, on median earnings of $51,182 vs $49,063 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Manchester Community College | Lakes Region Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,143 | $13,124 |
| Total net cost | $28,286 | $26,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,063 | $51,182 |
| Median debt | $15,060 | $18,525 |
| Payback | 40.2 yrs | 9.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$14,226 | $30,192 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Manchester Community College or Lakes Region Community College?
Lakes Region Community College, at $13,124 a year after aid versus $14,143 — a gap of $1,019 a year, or $2,038 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 Manchester Community College or Lakes Region Community College graduates earn more?
Lakes Region Community College graduates report a median $51,182 ten years after entry, $2,119 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, Manchester Community College or Lakes Region Community College?
Manchester Community College: its completers carry a median $15,060 in federal loans versus $18,525 at Lakes Region Community College, a difference of $3,465. 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?
46% of students finish at Lakes Region Community 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.