Mesalands Community College vs Carrington College-Albuquerque: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mesalands Community College comes closer — median earnings $32,272 against a $37,780 total, vs $36,718 at Carrington College-Albuquerque. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mesalands Community College | Carrington College-Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,445 | $49,030 |
| Total net cost | $37,780 | $196,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,272 | $36,718 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$359,540 | -$428,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Mesalands Community College or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
Mesalands Community College, at $9,445 a year after aid versus $49,030 — a gap of $39,585 a year, or $158,340 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Mesalands Community College or Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates report a median $36,718 ten years after entry, $4,446 more than the $32,272 at Mesalands 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?
65% of students finish at Carrington College-Albuquerque, against 42% at Mesalands 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.