American National University vs Mountain Gateway Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mountain Gateway Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,293 against a $19,444 total, vs $26,370 at American National University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American National University | Mountain Gateway Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,036 | $4,861 |
| Total net cost | $36,072 | $19,444 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,370 | $34,293 |
| Median debt | $12,814 | $9,182 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$475,872 | -$300,784 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American National University or Mountain Gateway Community College?
Mountain Gateway Community College, at $4,861 a year after aid versus $18,036 — a gap of $13,175 a year, or $16,628 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do American National University or Mountain Gateway Community College graduates earn more?
Mountain Gateway Community College graduates report a median $34,293 ten years after entry, $7,923 more than the $26,370 at American National University. 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, American National University or Mountain Gateway Community College?
Mountain Gateway Community College: its completers carry a median $9,182 in federal loans versus $12,814 at American National University, a difference of $3,632. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
38% of students finish at Mountain Gateway Community College, against 33% at American National 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.