Alamance Community College vs University of North Carolina School of the Arts: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of North Carolina School of the Arts comes closer — median earnings $38,357 against a $59,624 total, vs $34,241 at Alamance Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alamance Community College | University of North Carolina School of the Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,109 | $14,906 |
| Total net cost | $24,436 | $59,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,241 | $38,357 |
| Median debt | — | $23,870 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$306,816 | -$259,684 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alamance Community College or University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
Alamance Community College, at $6,109 a year after aid versus $14,906 — a gap of $8,797 a year, or $35,188 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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduates report a median $38,357 ten years after entry, $4,116 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?
78% of students finish at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, 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.