Lane Community College
Lane Community College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Lane Community College at a Glance
Lane Community College is a public community college in Eugene, Oregon, with additional facilities in downtown Eugene, Florence, Cottage Grove, and the Lane Aviation Academy at Eugene Airport. As of 2023–2024, Lane serves more than 15,000 credit and non-credit students annually in a 5,000 square-mile service district, including most of Lane County as well as individual school districts in Benton, Linn, and Douglas counties.
Is Lane Community College Worth It?
At a value score of 21/100, Lane Community College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $38,075 — 29% below average — while paying $9,123/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 20% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 2 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Lane Community College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Lane Community College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #136 of 162 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #2 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #3 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #4 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #5 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #6 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #136 | Lane Community College | 21 | $9,123 | $38,075 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Lane Community College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in OR.
Best Programs at Lane Community College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Lane Community College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $9,123/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in OR
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Eugene, OR
- Student Body
- 6,064 students
- Graduation Rate
- 20%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,123
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $38,075
- Median Student Debt
- $14,761