Carl Albert State College vs Redlands Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Redlands Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,224 against a $11,928 total, vs $34,117 at Carl Albert State College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carl Albert State College | Redlands Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,607 | $5,964 |
| Total net cost | $29,214 | $11,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,117 | $37,224 |
| Median debt | $9,362 | $6,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$314,074 | -$234,648 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Carl Albert State College or Redlands Community College?
Redlands Community College, at $5,964 a year after aid versus $14,607 — a gap of $8,643 a year, or $17,286 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Carl Albert State College or Redlands Community College graduates earn more?
Redlands Community College graduates report a median $37,224 ten years after entry, $3,107 more than the $34,117 at Carl Albert State 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, Carl Albert State College or Redlands Community College?
Redlands Community College: its completers carry a median $6,750 in federal loans versus $9,362 at Carl Albert State College, a difference of $2,612. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
43% of students finish at Carl Albert State College, against 35% at Redlands 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.