Southern State Community College vs Auburn Career Center: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Auburn Career Center comes closer — median earnings $37,032 against a $48,204 total, vs $35,463 at Southern State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern State Community College | Auburn Career Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,674 | $12,051 |
| Total net cost | $19,348 | $48,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,463 | $37,032 |
| Median debt | $11,457 | $6,365 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$277,288 | -$274,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southern State Community College or Auburn Career Center?
Southern State Community College, at $9,674 a year after aid versus $12,051 — a gap of $2,377 a year, or $28,856 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southern State Community College or Auburn Career Center graduates earn more?
Auburn Career Center graduates report a median $37,032 ten years after entry, $1,569 more than the $35,463 at Southern State 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, Southern State Community College or Auburn Career Center?
Auburn Career Center: its completers carry a median $6,365 in federal loans versus $11,457 at Southern State Community College, a difference of $5,092. 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 37% at Southern State 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.