George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville vs Alabama State University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville comes closer — median earnings $39,842 against a $52,680 total, vs $34,502 at Alabama State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville | Alabama State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,170 | $20,435 |
| Total net cost | $52,680 | $81,740 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,842 | $34,502 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$223,040 | -$358,900 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville or Alabama State University?
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, at $13,170 a year after aid versus $20,435 — a gap of $7,265 a year, or $29,060 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville or Alabama State University graduates earn more?
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville graduates report a median $39,842 ten years after entry, $5,340 more than the $34,502 at Alabama State University. 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, George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville or Alabama State University?
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Alabama State University, a difference of $20,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, against 30% at Alabama State University. 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.