Alabama State University vs Chattahoochee Valley Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Chattahoochee Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,438 against a $8,488 total, vs $34,502 at Alabama State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alabama State University | Chattahoochee Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,435 | $4,244 |
| Total net cost | $81,740 | $8,488 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,502 | $36,438 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$358,900 | -$246,928 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alabama State University or Chattahoochee Valley Community College?
Chattahoochee Valley Community College, at $4,244 a year after aid versus $20,435 — a gap of $16,191 a year, or $73,252 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 State University or Chattahoochee Valley Community College graduates earn more?
Chattahoochee Valley Community College graduates report a median $36,438 ten years after entry, $1,936 more than the $34,502 at Alabama State University. 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 leaves students with less debt, Alabama State University or Chattahoochee Valley Community College?
Chattahoochee Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Alabama State University, a difference of $20,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
36% of students finish at Chattahoochee Valley Community College, against 30% at Alabama State 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.