John C Calhoun State Community College vs The University of Alabama
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner, AL | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | -48% | +61% |
| 10-year net gain | $-9,533 | $59,250 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $46,016 | $60,722 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $37,672 | $44,857 |
| Average net price | $7,660 | $22,420 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $22,750 |
| Break-even | 19.4 yrs | 6.2 yrs |
| Graduation rate | — | 73% |
| Admission rate | — | 77% |
John C Calhoun State Community College
Poor return
$-9,533 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
The University of Alabama
Break-even
+$59,250 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.