H Councill Trenholm State Community College vs Central Alabama Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but H Councill Trenholm State Community College comes closer — median earnings $32,183 against a $33,300 total, vs $33,506 at Central Alabama Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | H Councill Trenholm State Community College | Central Alabama Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,325 | $15,996 |
| Total net cost | $33,300 | $63,984 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,183 | $33,506 |
| Median debt | — | $9,766 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$356,840 | -$361,064 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, H Councill Trenholm State Community College or Central Alabama Community College?
H Councill Trenholm State Community College, at $8,325 a year after aid versus $15,996 — a gap of $7,671 a year, or $30,684 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do H Councill Trenholm State Community College or Central Alabama Community College graduates earn more?
Central Alabama Community College graduates report a median $33,506 ten years after entry, $1,323 more than the $32,183 at H Councill Trenholm State 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?
33% of students finish at Central Alabama Community College, against 16% at H Councill Trenholm 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.