George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville vs Central Alabama Community College: 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 $33,506 at Central Alabama Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville | Central Alabama Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,170 | $15,996 |
| Total net cost | $52,680 | $63,984 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,842 | $33,506 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $9,766 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$223,040 | -$361,064 |
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 Central Alabama Community College?
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, at $13,170 a year after aid versus $15,996 — a gap of $2,826 a year, or $11,304 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 Central Alabama Community College graduates earn more?
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville graduates report a median $39,842 ten years after entry, $6,336 more than the $33,506 at Central Alabama 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, George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville or Central Alabama Community College?
Central Alabama Community College: its completers carry a median $9,766 in federal loans versus $11,000 at George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, a difference of $1,234. 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 33% at Central Alabama 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.