Head-to-head comparison
Portland Community College vs Lewis & Clark College: which has better ROI?
Option A Portland, OR
Portland Community College
- Net price / year
- $10,405
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,592
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Portland, OR
Lewis & Clark College
- Net price / year
- $36,013
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,205
- Payback
- 10.4 yrs
Lewis & Clark College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,052 in 10.4 years versus not at all at Portland Community College, on median earnings of $62,205 vs $44,592 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Portland Community College | Lewis & Clark College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,405 | $36,013 |
| Total net cost | $20,810 | $144,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,592 | $62,205 |
| Median debt | $12,999 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | 10.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$96,170 | $132,848 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Portland Community College or Lewis & Clark College?
Portland Community College, at $10,405 a year after aid versus $36,013 — a gap of $25,608 a year, or $123,242 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 Portland Community College or Lewis & Clark College graduates earn more?
Lewis & Clark College graduates report a median $62,205 ten years after entry, $17,613 more than the $44,592 at Portland 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, Portland Community College or Lewis & Clark College?
Portland Community College: its completers carry a median $12,999 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Lewis & Clark College, a difference of $6,501. 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?
75% of students finish at Lewis & Clark College, against 18% at Portland 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.