University of Mobile vs Central Alabama Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Mobile comes closer — median earnings $43,611 against a $89,528 total, vs $33,506 at Central Alabama Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Mobile | Central Alabama Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,382 | $15,996 |
| Total net cost | $89,528 | $63,984 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,611 | $33,506 |
| Median debt | $26,500 | $9,766 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$184,508 | -$361,064 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Mobile or Central Alabama Community College?
Central Alabama Community College, at $15,996 a year after aid versus $22,382 — a gap of $6,386 a year, or $25,544 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Mobile or Central Alabama Community College graduates earn more?
University of Mobile graduates report a median $43,611 ten years after entry, $10,105 more than the $33,506 at Central Alabama 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, University of Mobile or Central Alabama Community College?
Central Alabama Community College: its completers carry a median $9,766 in federal loans versus $26,500 at University of Mobile, a difference of $16,734. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at University of Mobile, against 33% at Central Alabama 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.