Alamance Community College vs Southwestern Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southwestern Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,145 against a $10,414 total, vs $34,241 at Alamance Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alamance Community College | Southwestern Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,109 | $5,207 |
| Total net cost | $24,436 | $10,414 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,241 | $34,145 |
| Median debt | — | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$306,816 | -$294,714 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alamance Community College or Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College, at $5,207 a year after aid versus $6,109 — a gap of $902 a year, or $14,022 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 Southwestern Community College graduates earn more?
Alamance Community College graduates report a median $34,241 ten years after entry, $96 more than the $34,145 at Southwestern 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?
53% of students finish at Southwestern 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.