Alpena Community College vs Michigan College of Beauty-Troy: 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 $22,058 at Michigan College of Beauty-Troy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alpena Community College | Michigan College of Beauty-Troy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,320 | $18,013 |
| Total net cost | $6,640 | $72,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,442 | $22,058 |
| Median debt | $9,024 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$245,000 | -$598,092 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alpena Community College or Michigan College of Beauty-Troy?
Alpena Community College, at $3,320 a year after aid versus $18,013 — a gap of $14,693 a year, or $65,412 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 Michigan College of Beauty-Troy graduates earn more?
Alpena Community College graduates report a median $36,442 ten years after entry, $14,384 more than the $22,058 at Michigan College of Beauty-Troy. 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 Michigan College of Beauty-Troy?
Michigan College of Beauty-Troy: 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?
68% of students finish at Michigan College of Beauty-Troy, 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.