Atlantic Cape Community College vs Pillar College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pillar College comes closer — median earnings $45,577 against a $33,880 total, vs $34,241 at Atlantic Cape Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Atlantic Cape Community College | Pillar College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,392 | $8,470 |
| Total net cost | $16,784 | $33,880 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,241 | $45,577 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $21,483 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$299,164 | -$89,540 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Atlantic Cape Community College or Pillar College?
Atlantic Cape Community College, at $8,392 a year after aid versus $8,470 — a gap of $78 a year, or $17,096 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Atlantic Cape Community College or Pillar College graduates earn more?
Pillar College graduates report a median $45,577 ten years after entry, $11,336 more than the $34,241 at Atlantic Cape 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 leaves students with less debt, Atlantic Cape Community College or Pillar College?
Atlantic Cape Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $21,483 at Pillar College, a difference of $11,983. 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 Pillar College, against 30% at Atlantic Cape 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.