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Clackamas Community College

#3 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon
Public Oregon City, OR · Suburban · Far West · 87% data
A- Value B+ Affordability C+ Earnings
Graduation Rate
23% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$42,886 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$7,855 B+
54% less than the typical college
Enrollment
4,963
Earnings +5% vs avg
Graduation -60% vs avg
Net Price +-54% vs avg
Mobility Top 68%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 31.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $31.9 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon.

31.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $31.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $970,823.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 23% — 60% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $31.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
0.2%
Top 81%
Patents
15
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
129
Downstream influence

Why Clackamas Community College Matters

Clackamas Community College is a public community college in Oregon City, OR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Community College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
4,963
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Precision Production

Why students choose Clackamas Community College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 46% overall
C+
Earnings
$42,886 median
A-
Value
5.5× net price
B+
Affordability
$7,855/yr net
F
Graduation
23% graduate
D+
Social Mobility
1.1% climb Q1→Q5
C+
Diversity
0.60 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Clackamas Community College serves around 4,963 students, making it an accessible option for those looking to pursue degrees in practical fields such as Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Precision Production, and Construction Trades. With a graduation rate of 23%, it's especially suited for students who may need more time or resources to complete their programs. This college is a solid fit for individuals who appreciate a community-focused environment and are seeking hands-on training that can lead directly into the workforce.

After graduation, students can expect to earn about $42,886 within ten years, which gives a good indication of the potential return on their investment. Many graduates find stable employment, especially in fields like health and construction, which are known for their demand. This financial outlook is bolstered by the college's affordability, with a net price of $7,855 after aid, making it a reasonable choice for those who are budget-conscious.

Looking at the financials, the median debt for students stands at $11,992. This manageable debt level combined with the college’s low net price means that graduates can focus on building their careers rather than being bogged down by financial stress. Typically, those who thrive here are motivated individuals ready to gain practical skills and enter the workforce quickly, making the most of the college's focused programs.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Clackamas Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Clackamas Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Oregon City, Oregon, Clackamas Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 23%.

Retention Rate
66%
Full-Time Faculty
30%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$10,281
Student–Faculty Ratio
14:1
Diversity Index
0.60
First-Gen Students
46%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clackamas Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Clackamas Community College is $14,265, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,855. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,860 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,992 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$6,345
Out-of-State
$14,265
Avg Net Price
$7,855
Median Debt
$11,992
Pell Grant Rate
25%
Federal Loan Rate
34%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$7,860
Family Income $30K–$48K
$6,534
Family Income $48K–$75K
$7,216
Family Income $110K+
$11,085

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Clackamas Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Clackamas Community College report median earnings of $42,886, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$37,557
8 Years
$40,607
10 Years
$42,886
Debt-to-Earnings
0.28x
Earning > $25K
55%

Earnings Trajectory

$37,557 6yr $40,607 8yr $42,886 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (95)
13%
100% (95)
13%
100% (95)
13%
100% (95)
13%

How Clackamas Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation23%Earnings 10yr$43KNet Price$8KRetention66%Median Debt$12KPell Grant Rate25%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$8K$0-30K$7K$30-48K$7K$48-75K$11K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%9.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%11.7%MOBILITY1.14%

College ROI Calculator

Is Clackamas Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Clackamas Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,855/year ($31,420 total). Graduates earn $42,886 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,002,243 in total earnings — a net gain of $970,823 (31.9× your investment). The median debt is $11,992, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 23% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$31,420
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,002,243
Net Return
$970,823
ROI Multiple
31.9×
Cost Per Year
$7,855
Median Debt
$11,992
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
23%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Clackamas Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Clackamas Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.14%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $73,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.14%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
11.7%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
9.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$73,400

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Clackamas Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Clackamas Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.20, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.20
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.6%
Support Ratio
0.97
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Clackamas Community College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 15 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
0.17%
Top 81% nationally
Patents Produced
15
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
129
Downstream influence

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-224,586

Top Programs

The fields Clackamas Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Clackamas Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Oregon City, Oregon, Clackamas Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 23%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clackamas Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Clackamas Community College is $14,265, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,855. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,860 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,992 in federal student loans.

Is Clackamas Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Clackamas Community College report median earnings of $42,886, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Clackamas Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Clackamas Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.14%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $73,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Clackamas Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Clackamas Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.20, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Clackamas Community College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys