Head-to-head · 2026
Columbia Gorge Community College vs Mt Hood Community College
Compare average net price ($10,416 at Columbia Gorge Community College; $7,821 at Mt Hood Community College), ROI score (10.67 vs 13.15), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($44,440 vs $41,125), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Columbia Gorge Community College; Open / not reported at Mt Hood Community College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Columbia Gorge Community College | Mt Hood Community College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 10.67 | 13.15 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $10,416 | $7,821 ✓ |
| 4-year avg net price | $41,664 | $31,284 ✓ |
| In-state tuition | $5,940 | $5,247 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $10,260 | $9,819 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $44,440 ✓ | $41,125 |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 28.8% ✓ | 23.7% |
| Retention rate | 51.7% | — |
| Median debt | $19,397 | $13,667 ✓ |
| Enrollment | 543 | 3,856 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Columbia Gorge Community College | Mt Hood Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $10,398 | $5,800 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | — | $7,725 |
| Family income $48–75k | $11,328 | $8,016 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | — | $10,697 |
| Family income $110k+ | — | $12,292 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Columbia Gorge Community College | Mt Hood Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 67.9% | 44% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 10.9% | 3.8% |
| Accounting and Related Services | 1.6% | 5.4% |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 4.9% | 1.8% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 0.5% | 4.1% |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 1.1% | 2.6% |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 2.7% | 0.3% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 0.5% | 1.9% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Mt Hood Community College reports the lower average net price by $2,595 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $10,380 difference over four years ($31,284 vs $41,664).
Columbia Gorge Community College reports $3,315 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($44,440 vs $41,125). This is not earnings for a specific major.
Retention data is incomplete for at least one school. Compare the available graduation, debt, price and admissions context without treating a missing field as an advantage.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Columbia Gorge Community College vs Mt Hood Community College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Mt Hood Community College is cheaper — average net price $7,821 per year vs $10,416 at Columbia Gorge Community College. The annual difference of $2,595 adds up to about $10,380 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Columbia Gorge Community College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $44,440 vs $41,125 at Mt Hood Community College. The gap in the federal data is $3,315. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.