Highland Community College vs Allen County Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Highland Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,291 against a $41,816 total, vs $40,059 at Allen County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Highland Community College | Allen County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,454 | $8,642 |
| Total net cost | $41,816 | $17,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,291 | $40,059 |
| Median debt | $8,277 | $6,954 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$183,196 | -$183,304 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Highland Community College or Allen County Community College?
Allen County Community College, at $8,642 a year after aid versus $10,454 — a gap of $1,812 a year, or $24,532 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Highland Community College or Allen County Community College graduates earn more?
Highland Community College graduates report a median $41,291 ten years after entry, $1,232 more than the $40,059 at Allen County 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, Highland Community College or Allen County Community College?
Allen County Community College: its completers carry a median $6,954 in federal loans versus $8,277 at Highland Community College, a difference of $1,323. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Highland Community College, against 37% at Allen County 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.