Alpena Community College vs L'esprit Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alpena Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,442 against a $6,640 total, vs $22,440 at L'esprit Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alpena Community College | L'esprit Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,320 | $22,279 |
| Total net cost | $6,640 | $89,116 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,442 | $22,440 |
| Median debt | $9,024 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$245,000 | -$607,516 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alpena Community College or L'esprit Academy?
Alpena Community College, at $3,320 a year after aid versus $22,279 — a gap of $18,959 a year, or $82,476 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Alpena Community College or L'esprit Academy graduates earn more?
Alpena Community College graduates report a median $36,442 ten years after entry, $14,002 more than the $22,440 at L'esprit Academy. 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 leaves students with less debt, Alpena Community College or L'esprit Academy?
L'esprit Academy: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $9,024 at Alpena Community College, a difference of $2,691. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
88% of students finish at L'esprit Academy, against 52% at Alpena 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.