Degree Dividend
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Bevill State Community College vs Northwest Shoals Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Jasper AL · vs · Public, Muscle Shoals AL

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northwest Shoals Community College comes closer — median earnings $33,828 against a $11,352 total, vs $34,107 at Bevill State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBevill State Community CollegeNorthwest Shoals Community College
Net price / yr$5,937$2,838
Total net cost$23,748$11,352
Median earnings, 10 yrs$34,107$33,828
Median debt$10,000
Payback
20-year net return-$308,808-$301,992

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Bevill State Community College or Northwest Shoals Community College?

Northwest Shoals Community College, at $2,838 a year after aid versus $5,937 — a gap of $3,099 a year, or $12,396 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Bevill State Community College or Northwest Shoals Community College graduates earn more?

Bevill State Community College graduates report a median $34,107 ten years after entry, $279 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 graduates more of its students?

39% of students finish at Northwest Shoals Community College, against 38% at Bevill State 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.

Bevill State Community College vs Northwest Shoals Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Bevill State Community College or Northwest Shoals Community College a better value?
Northwest Shoals Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Bevill State Community College or Northwest Shoals Community College?
Northwest Shoals Community College: $2,838/yr net price after aid versus $5,937/yr at Bevill State Community College — a difference of $3,099 a year, or about $12,396 over four years.
Do Bevill State Community College or Northwest Shoals Community College graduates earn more?
Bevill State Community College graduates earn a median $34,107 ten years after entry, versus $33,828 at Northwest Shoals Community College — a $279 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.