San Juan College vs Carrington College-Albuquerque: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but San Juan College comes closer — median earnings $36,513 against a $23,076 total, vs $36,718 at Carrington College-Albuquerque. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Juan College | Carrington College-Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,769 | $49,030 |
| Total net cost | $23,076 | $196,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,513 | $36,718 |
| Median debt | $9,750 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$260,016 | -$428,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, San Juan College or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
San Juan College, at $5,769 a year after aid versus $49,030 — a gap of $43,261 a year, or $173,044 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do San Juan College or Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates report a median $36,718 ten years after entry, $205 more than the $36,513 at San Juan 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, San Juan College or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
Carrington College-Albuquerque: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $9,750 at San Juan College, a difference of $250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Carrington College-Albuquerque, against 37% at San Juan 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.