BMCC vs. Portland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, OR with Portland Community College in Portland, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Portland Community College is larger than BMCC based on total student enrollment (20,861 students vs. 1,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blue Mountain Community College is located in Pendleton, OR (Remote Town setting); Portland Community College is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
• Blue Mountain Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Portland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blue Mountain Community College 18:1; Portland Community College 19:1.

BMCC vs. Portland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BMCC or Portland Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland Community College than BMCC ($9,372 vs. $12,017).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Mountain Community College are 30.2% lower than at Portland Community College ($10,800 vs. $15,462).
• Blue Mountain Community College is 35.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Portland Community College (about $1,856 more per year; $7,076.00 vs. $5,220.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Portland Community College than at Blue Mountain Community College (about $686 more per year; $10,440.00 vs. $9,754.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Mountain Community College than at Portland Community College (82% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Portland Community College students is 19.1% larger than aid received by Blue Mountain Community College students ($7,297 vs. $6,126).

BMCC vs. Portland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BMCC or Portland Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Portland Community College and BMCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BMCC - Open admission; Portland Community College - Open admission.

BMCC vs. Portland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BMCC and Portland Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Portland Community College earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than BMCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $34,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Blue Mountain Community College graduates have a $543 lower median loan debt than Portland Community College graduates ($16,249 vs. $16,792).
• Among borrowers, BMCC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Portland Community College graduates ($168 vs. $173).
• More Portland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BMCC students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 31%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.