Alabama A & M University vs Lurleen B Wallace Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alabama A & M University comes closer — median earnings $40,628 against a $70,484 total, vs $32,307 at Lurleen B Wallace Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alabama A & M University | Lurleen B Wallace Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,621 | $2,792 |
| Total net cost | $70,484 | $5,584 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,628 | $32,307 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,124 | -$326,644 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alabama A & M University or Lurleen B Wallace Community College?
Lurleen B Wallace Community College, at $2,792 a year after aid versus $17,621 — a gap of $14,829 a year, or $64,900 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Alabama A & M University or Lurleen B Wallace Community College graduates earn more?
Alabama A & M University graduates report a median $40,628 ten years after entry, $8,321 more than the $32,307 at Lurleen B Wallace Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Lurleen B Wallace Community College, against 24% at Alabama A & M University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.