Alamance Community College vs Lees-McRae College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lees-McRae College comes closer — median earnings $43,415 against a $113,360 total, vs $34,241 at Alamance Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alamance Community College | Lees-McRae College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,109 | $28,340 |
| Total net cost | $24,436 | $113,360 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,241 | $43,415 |
| Median debt | — | $17,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$306,816 | -$212,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alamance Community College or Lees-McRae College?
Alamance Community College, at $6,109 a year after aid versus $28,340 — a gap of $22,231 a year, or $88,924 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 Lees-McRae College graduates earn more?
Lees-McRae College graduates report a median $43,415 ten years after entry, $9,174 more than the $34,241 at Alamance 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?
42% of students finish at Lees-McRae 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.