Alamance Community College vs Lenoir-Rhyne University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lenoir-Rhyne University comes closer — median earnings $45,543 against a $82,756 total, vs $34,241 at Alamance Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alamance Community College | Lenoir-Rhyne University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,109 | $20,689 |
| Total net cost | $24,436 | $82,756 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,241 | $45,543 |
| Median debt | — | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$306,816 | -$139,096 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alamance Community College or Lenoir-Rhyne University?
Alamance Community College, at $6,109 a year after aid versus $20,689 — a gap of $14,580 a year, or $58,320 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 Lenoir-Rhyne University graduates earn more?
Lenoir-Rhyne University graduates report a median $45,543 ten years after entry, $11,302 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?
48% of students finish at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 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.