Cuyahoga Community College District vs Auburn Career Center: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cuyahoga Community College District comes closer — median earnings $35,654 against a $17,064 total, vs $37,032 at Auburn Career Center. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cuyahoga Community College District | Auburn Career Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,266 | $12,051 |
| Total net cost | $17,064 | $48,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,654 | $37,032 |
| Median debt | $8,150 | $6,365 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$271,184 | -$274,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cuyahoga Community College District or Auburn Career Center?
Cuyahoga Community College District, at $4,266 a year after aid versus $12,051 — a gap of $7,785 a year, or $31,140 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cuyahoga Community College District or Auburn Career Center graduates earn more?
Auburn Career Center graduates report a median $37,032 ten years after entry, $1,378 more than the $35,654 at Cuyahoga Community College District. 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, Cuyahoga Community College District or Auburn Career Center?
Auburn Career Center: its completers carry a median $6,365 in federal loans versus $8,150 at Cuyahoga Community College District, a difference of $1,785. 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 Auburn Career Center, against 31% at Cuyahoga Community College District. 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.