North Carolina Central University vs Alamance Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Carolina Central University comes closer — median earnings $42,968 against a $61,436 total, vs $34,241 at Alamance Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Carolina Central University | Alamance Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,359 | $6,109 |
| Total net cost | $61,436 | $24,436 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,968 | $34,241 |
| Median debt | $28,250 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$169,276 | -$306,816 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Carolina Central University or Alamance Community College?
Alamance Community College, at $6,109 a year after aid versus $15,359 — a gap of $9,250 a year, or $37,000 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do North Carolina Central University or Alamance Community College graduates earn more?
North Carolina Central University graduates report a median $42,968 ten years after entry, $8,727 more than the $34,241 at Alamance 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?
42% of students finish at North Carolina Central University, against 39% at Alamance 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.