Alpena Community College vs Ross College-Grand Rapids North: 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 $30,072 at Ross College-Grand Rapids North. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alpena Community College | Ross College-Grand Rapids North |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,320 | $20,033 |
| Total net cost | $6,640 | $80,132 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,442 | $30,072 |
| Median debt | $9,024 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$245,000 | -$445,892 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alpena Community College or Ross College-Grand Rapids North?
Alpena Community College, at $3,320 a year after aid versus $20,033 — a gap of $16,713 a year, or $73,492 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 Ross College-Grand Rapids North graduates earn more?
Alpena Community College graduates report a median $36,442 ten years after entry, $6,370 more than the $30,072 at Ross College-Grand Rapids North. 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 Ross College-Grand Rapids North?
Alpena Community College: its completers carry a median $9,024 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Ross College-Grand Rapids North, a difference of $476. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Ross College-Grand Rapids North, 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.