Alcorn State University vs Southwest Mississippi Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alcorn State University comes closer — median earnings $36,421 against a $53,060 total, vs $33,227 at Southwest Mississippi Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alcorn State University | Southwest Mississippi Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,265 | $2,525 |
| Total net cost | $53,060 | $5,050 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,421 | $33,227 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$291,840 | -$307,710 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alcorn State University or Southwest Mississippi Community College?
Southwest Mississippi Community College, at $2,525 a year after aid versus $13,265 — a gap of $10,740 a year, or $48,010 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Alcorn State University or Southwest Mississippi Community College graduates earn more?
Alcorn State University graduates report a median $36,421 ten years after entry, $3,194 more than the $33,227 at Southwest Mississippi 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?
57% of students finish at Alcorn State University, against 56% at Southwest Mississippi 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.