Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs Alpena Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kalamazoo Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,618 against a $5,958 total, vs $36,442 at Alpena Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Alpena Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,979 | $3,320 |
| Total net cost | $5,958 | $6,640 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,618 | $36,442 |
| Median debt | $9,699 | $9,024 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$200,798 | -$245,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Kalamazoo Valley Community College or Alpena Community College?
Kalamazoo Valley Community College, at $2,979 a year after aid versus $3,320 — a gap of $341 a year, or $682 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Kalamazoo Valley Community College or Alpena Community College graduates earn more?
Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduates report a median $38,618 ten years after entry, $2,176 more than the $36,442 at Alpena 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, Kalamazoo Valley Community College or Alpena Community College?
Alpena Community College: its completers carry a median $9,024 in federal loans versus $9,699 at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, a difference of $675. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
52% of students finish at Alpena Community College, against 28% at Kalamazoo Valley 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.