University of Rio Grande vs Auburn Career Center: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Rio Grande comes closer — median earnings $41,478 against a $47,372 total, vs $37,032 at Auburn Career Center. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Rio Grande | Auburn Career Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,686 | $12,051 |
| Total net cost | $47,372 | $48,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,478 | $37,032 |
| Median debt | $17,750 | $6,365 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$185,012 | -$274,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Rio Grande or Auburn Career Center?
Auburn Career Center, at $12,051 a year after aid versus $23,686 — a gap of $11,635 a year, or $832 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 Rio Grande or Auburn Career Center graduates earn more?
University of Rio Grande graduates report a median $41,478 ten years after entry, $4,446 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, University of Rio Grande or Auburn Career Center?
Auburn Career Center: its completers carry a median $6,365 in federal loans versus $17,750 at University of Rio Grande, a difference of $11,385. 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 36% at University of Rio Grande. 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.