Auburn Career Center vs The Modern College of Design: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but The Modern College of Design comes closer — median earnings $42,187 against a $78,718 total, vs $37,032 at Auburn Career Center. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auburn Career Center | The Modern College of Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,051 | $39,359 |
| Total net cost | $48,204 | $78,718 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,032 | $42,187 |
| Median debt | $6,365 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$274,764 | -$202,178 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Auburn Career Center or The Modern College of Design?
Auburn Career Center, at $12,051 a year after aid versus $39,359 — a gap of $27,308 a year, or $30,514 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Auburn Career Center or The Modern College of Design graduates earn more?
The Modern College of Design graduates report a median $42,187 ten years after entry, $5,155 more than the $37,032 at Auburn Career Center. 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, Auburn Career Center or The Modern College of Design?
Auburn Career Center: its completers carry a median $6,365 in federal loans versus $12,000 at The Modern College of Design, a difference of $5,635. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at The Modern College of Design, against 69% at Auburn Career Center. 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.