Hinds Community College vs Alcorn State University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alcorn State University comes closer — median earnings $36,421 against a $53,060 total, vs $30,774 at Hinds Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hinds Community College | Alcorn State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,060 | $13,265 |
| Total net cost | $8,120 | $53,060 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,774 | $36,421 |
| Median debt | $9,371 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$359,840 | -$291,840 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Hinds Community College or Alcorn State University?
Hinds Community College, at $4,060 a year after aid versus $13,265 — a gap of $9,205 a year, or $44,940 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Hinds Community College or Alcorn State University graduates earn more?
Alcorn State University graduates report a median $36,421 ten years after entry, $5,647 more than the $30,774 at Hinds 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, Hinds Community College or Alcorn State University?
Hinds Community College: its completers carry a median $9,371 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Alcorn State University, a difference of $17,629. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Alcorn State University, against 43% at Hinds 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.