Auburn University at Montgomery vs Northwest Shoals Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Auburn University at Montgomery comes closer — median earnings $44,391 against a $52,896 total, vs $33,828 at Northwest Shoals Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auburn University at Montgomery | Northwest Shoals Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,224 | $2,838 |
| Total net cost | $52,896 | $11,352 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,391 | $33,828 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $10,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$132,276 | -$301,992 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Auburn University at Montgomery or Northwest Shoals Community College?
Northwest Shoals Community College, at $2,838 a year after aid versus $13,224 — a gap of $10,386 a year, or $41,544 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 University at Montgomery or Northwest Shoals Community College graduates earn more?
Auburn University at Montgomery graduates report a median $44,391 ten years after entry, $10,563 more than the $33,828 at Northwest Shoals 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, Auburn University at Montgomery or Northwest Shoals Community College?
Northwest Shoals Community College: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Auburn University at Montgomery, a difference of $15,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Northwest Shoals Community College, against 33% at Auburn University at Montgomery. 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.