Owens Community College vs Auburn Career Center: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Owens Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,275 against a $41,476 total, vs $37,032 at Auburn Career Center. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Owens Community College | Auburn Career Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,369 | $12,051 |
| Total net cost | $41,476 | $48,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,275 | $37,032 |
| Median debt | $16,667 | $6,365 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$263,176 | -$274,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Owens Community College or Auburn Career Center?
Owens Community College, at $10,369 a year after aid versus $12,051 — a gap of $1,682 a year, or $6,728 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Owens Community College or Auburn Career Center graduates earn more?
Owens Community College graduates report a median $37,275 ten years after entry, $243 more than the $37,032 at Auburn Career Center. 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, Owens Community College or Auburn Career Center?
Auburn Career Center: its completers carry a median $6,365 in federal loans versus $16,667 at Owens Community College, a difference of $10,302. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Auburn Career Center, against 35% at Owens 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.