John C Calhoun State Community College vs Alabama State University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but John C Calhoun State Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,192 against a $30,640 total, vs $34,502 at Alabama State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | John C Calhoun State Community College | Alabama State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,660 | $20,435 |
| Total net cost | $30,640 | $81,740 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,192 | $34,502 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$234,000 | -$358,900 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, John C Calhoun State Community College or Alabama State University?
John C Calhoun State Community College, at $7,660 a year after aid versus $20,435 — a gap of $12,775 a year, or $51,100 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do John C Calhoun State Community College or Alabama State University graduates earn more?
John C Calhoun State Community College graduates report a median $38,192 ten years after entry, $3,690 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, John C Calhoun State Community College or Alabama State University?
John C Calhoun State Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Alabama State University, a difference of $19,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at John C Calhoun State Community College, 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.