Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Mott Community College vs Alpena Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Flint MI · vs · Public, Alpena MI

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alpena Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,442 against a $6,640 total, vs $32,538 at Mott Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureMott Community CollegeAlpena Community College
Net price / yr$5,687$3,320
Total net cost$11,374$6,640
Median earnings, 10 yrs$32,538$36,442
Median debt$13,000$9,024
Payback
20-year net return-$327,814-$245,000

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Mott Community College or Alpena Community College?

Alpena Community College, at $3,320 a year after aid versus $5,687 — a gap of $2,367 a year, or $4,734 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Mott Community College or Alpena Community College graduates earn more?

Alpena Community College graduates report a median $36,442 ten years after entry, $3,904 more than the $32,538 at Mott 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, Mott Community College or Alpena Community College?

Alpena Community College: its completers carry a median $9,024 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Mott Community College, a difference of $3,976. 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 32% at Mott 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.

Mott Community College vs Alpena Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Mott Community College or Alpena Community College a better value?
Alpena Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Mott Community College or Alpena Community College?
Alpena Community College: $3,320/yr net price after aid versus $5,687/yr at Mott Community College — a difference of $2,367 a year, or about $4,734 over four years.
Do Mott Community College or Alpena Community College graduates earn more?
Alpena Community College graduates earn a median $36,442 ten years after entry, versus $32,538 at Mott Community College — a $3,904 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.