Mountain Empire Community College vs American National University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mountain Empire Community College comes closer — median earnings $32,622 against a $35,408 total, vs $26,370 at American National University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mountain Empire Community College | American National University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,852 | $18,036 |
| Total net cost | $35,408 | $36,072 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,622 | $26,370 |
| Median debt | — | $12,814 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$350,168 | -$475,872 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Mountain Empire Community College or American National University?
Mountain Empire Community College, at $8,852 a year after aid versus $18,036 — a gap of $9,184 a year, or $664 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Mountain Empire Community College or American National University graduates earn more?
Mountain Empire Community College graduates report a median $32,622 ten years after entry, $6,252 more than the $26,370 at American National 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 graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Mountain Empire Community College, against 33% at American National 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.