Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Alamance Community College vs Carteret Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Graham NC · vs · Public, Morehead City NC

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alamance Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,241 against a $24,436 total, vs $33,357 at Carteret Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureAlamance Community CollegeCarteret Community College
Net price / yr$6,109$10,764
Total net cost$24,436$43,056
Median earnings, 10 yrs$34,241$33,357
Median debt
Payback
20-year net return-$306,816-$343,116

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Alamance Community College or Carteret Community College?

Alamance Community College, at $6,109 a year after aid versus $10,764 — a gap of $4,655 a year, or $18,620 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Alamance Community College or Carteret Community College graduates earn more?

Alamance Community College graduates report a median $34,241 ten years after entry, $884 more than the $33,357 at Carteret 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?

49% of students finish at Carteret Community College, against 39% at Alamance Community College. 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.

Alamance Community College vs Carteret Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Alamance Community College or Carteret Community College a better value?
Alamance Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Alamance Community College or Carteret Community College?
Alamance Community College: $6,109/yr net price after aid versus $10,764/yr at Carteret Community College — a difference of $4,655 a year, or about $18,620 over four years.
Do Alamance Community College or Carteret Community College graduates earn more?
Alamance Community College graduates earn a median $34,241 ten years after entry, versus $33,357 at Carteret Community College — a $884 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.