Alabama A & M University vs John C Calhoun State Community College
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Alabama A & M University Normal, AL | John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Break-even | Poor return |
| 10-year ROI | +6% | -48% |
| 10-year net gain | $4,769 | $-9,533 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $53,655 | $46,016 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $41,151 | $37,672 |
| Average net price | $17,621 | $7,660 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $12,000 |
| Break-even | 9.4 yrs | 19.4 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 24% | — |
| Admission rate | 58% | — |
Alabama A & M University
Break-even
+$4,769 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
John C Calhoun State Community College
Poor return
$-9,533 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.