Albany State University vs Coastal Pines Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Albany State University comes closer — median earnings $40,674 against a $47,592 total, vs $30,214 at Coastal Pines Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Albany State University | Coastal Pines Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,898 | -$126 |
| Total net cost | $47,592 | -$504 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,674 | $30,214 |
| Median debt | $25,024 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$201,312 | -$362,416 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Albany State University or Coastal Pines Technical College?
Coastal Pines Technical College, at -$126 a year after aid versus $11,898 — a gap of $12,024 a year, or $48,096 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Albany State University or Coastal Pines Technical College graduates earn more?
Albany State University graduates report a median $40,674 ten years after entry, $10,460 more than the $30,214 at Coastal Pines Technical 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 Coastal Pines Technical College, against 31% at Albany State 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.