Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Southwestern Oregon Community College

Open-data reference.

We found 12 schools structurally similar to Southwestern Oregon Community College that cost less. 12 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Southwestern Oregon Community College

Coos Bay, Oregon · Public

$8,527
Net Price
$38,349
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
38.9%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Southwestern Oregon Community College

Southwestern Oregon Community College posts an average net price of $8,527 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Southwestern Oregon Community College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 12 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $7,991, achieved by College of San Mateo at $536. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 12 of the 12 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Southwestern Oregon Community College’s $38,349, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $51,941.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

12
Alternatives Found
$7,991
Max Savings
12
Better Value Options
56%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. New Mexico Military Institut $57k 2. Norco College $51k 3. Moreno Valley College $52k 4. Saddleback College $51k 5. Mission College $51k Compared to Southwestern Oregon Community College: $38k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
New Mexico Military Institute
Roswell, NM · Public Better Value
$4,571 -$3,956 $57,410 41.1% 56%
Norco College
Norco, CA · Public Better Value
$5,169 -$3,358 $51,206 36.8% 56%
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA · Public Better Value
$6,483 -$2,044 $52,133 33.1% 52%
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA · Public Better Value
$4,152 -$4,375 $50,874 45.6% 51%
Mission College
Santa Clara, CA · Public Better Value
$5,080 -$3,447 $50,936 46.4% 50%
Montgomery College
Rockville, MD · Public Better Value
$8,027 -$500 $50,159 29.7% 48%
College of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA · Public Better Value
$536 -$7,991 $54,172 58.7% 47%
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA · Public Better Value
$3,423 -$5,104 $51,688 51.5% 47%
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, MA · Public Better Value
$2,624 -$5,903 $50,651 23.1% 47%
George T Baker Aviation Technical College
Miami, FL · Public Better Value
$7,489 -$1,038 $52,312 29.4% 41%
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland, WA · Public Better Value
$6,817 -$1,710 $50,669 38.3% 41%
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent, ME · Public Better Value
$7,482 -$1,045 $51,077 39.6% 40%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Southwestern Oregon Community College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Southwestern Oregon Community College?
We found 12 schools similar to Southwestern Oregon Community College that cost less. The closest match is New Mexico Military Institute with 56% similarity and a net price of $4,571.
What is the ROI of attending Southwestern Oregon Community College?
Southwestern Oregon Community College has an average net price of $8,527. Former students earn a median of $38,349 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 4.5x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Southwestern Oregon Community College for less money?
Yes - 12 of 12 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. New Mexico Military Institute costs $4,571 (saving $3,956) with median earnings of $57,410.
What is the cheapest alternative to Southwestern Oregon Community College?
The most affordable similar school is College of San Mateo at $536, saving $7,991 compared to Southwestern Oregon Community College. It has a 47% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 12 alternatives have an average median earnings of $51,941 compared to Southwestern Oregon Community College's $38,349. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.