Alamance Community College vs Shaw University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alamance Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,241 against a $24,436 total, vs $34,409 at Shaw University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alamance Community College | Shaw University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,109 | $16,512 |
| Total net cost | $24,436 | $66,048 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,241 | $34,409 |
| Median debt | — | $32,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$306,816 | -$345,068 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alamance Community College or Shaw University?
Alamance Community College, at $6,109 a year after aid versus $16,512 — a gap of $10,403 a year, or $41,612 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 Shaw University graduates earn more?
Shaw University graduates report a median $34,409 ten years after entry, $168 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?
39% of students finish at Alamance Community College, against 22% at Shaw 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.