Alexandria Technical & Community College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Alexandria Technical & Community College charges a net price of $13,691/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $27,382. Graduates earn a median $49,393 ten years after entry, $1,033/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 26.5 years — a 20-year net return of -$6,722, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Alexandria Technical & Community College's 26.5-year payback ranks #1,119 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 13% of them, and #32 of 68 in Minnesota.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,691/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $27,382 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,393 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,033/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 26.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$6,722 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Alexandria Technical & Community College's own numbers. Net price $13,691 × 2 years = $27,382 total. Median earnings $49,393 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,033 a year of premium. $27,382 ÷ $1,033 = 26.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$6,722. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Alexandria Technical & Community College students graduate with?
A median $12,000 in federal loans among completers, or 24% of the $49,393 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Alexandria Technical & Community College students graduate?
60% finish their degree — 40% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $27,382 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $45,637 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Alexandria Technical & Community College expensive compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Its $13,691 net price runs $3,130 below the $16,821 median across the 68 Minnesota colleges we profile, and $6,259 less across the full degree.