Head-to-head · 2026
Mt Hood Community College vs Portland Community College
Compare average net price ($7,821 at Mt Hood Community College; $10,405 at Portland Community College), ROI score (13.15 vs 10.71), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($41,125 vs $44,592), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Mt Hood Community College; Open / not reported at Portland 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 | Mt Hood Community College | Portland Community College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 13.15 ✓ | 10.71 |
| Avg net price | $7,821 ✓ | $10,405 |
| 4-year avg net price | $31,284 ✓ | $41,620 |
| In-state tuition | $5,247 | $5,220 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $9,819 | $10,440 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $41,125 | $44,592 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 23.7% ✓ | 18.4% |
| Retention rate | — | 62.5% |
| Median debt | $13,667 | $12,999 ✓ |
| Enrollment | 3,856 | 19,531 |
| 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 | Mt Hood Community College | Portland Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $5,800 ✓ | $8,937 |
| Family income $30–48k | $7,725 ✓ | $9,229 |
| Family income $48–75k | $8,016 ✓ | $11,327 |
| Family income $75–110k | $10,697 ✓ | $14,102 |
| Family income $110k+ | $12,292 ✓ | $15,868 |
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 | Mt Hood Community College | Portland Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 44% | 48.2% |
| Accounting and Related Services | 5.4% | 3.8% |
| Precision Metal Working | 5.8% | 2.7% |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 4.7% | 3% |
| Design and Applied Arts | 2.4% | 3.8% |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 1.2% | 3.8% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 4.1% | 0.9% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 2.8% | 1.7% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Mt Hood Community College reports the lower average net price by $2,584 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $10,336 difference over four years ($31,284 vs $41,620).
Portland Community College reports $3,467 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($44,592 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
Mt Hood Community College vs Portland 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 $10,405 at Portland Community College. The annual difference of $2,584 adds up to about $10,336 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Portland Community College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $44,592 vs $41,125 at Mt Hood Community College. The gap in the federal data is $3,467. 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.