Valley College-Cleveland 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 $24,900 at Valley College-Cleveland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Valley College-Cleveland | Auburn Career Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,411 | $12,051 |
| Total net cost | $121,644 | $48,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $24,900 | $37,032 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $6,365 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$590,844 | -$274,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Valley College-Cleveland or Auburn Career Center?
Auburn Career Center, at $12,051 a year after aid versus $30,411 — a gap of $18,360 a year, or $73,440 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Valley College-Cleveland or Auburn Career Center graduates earn more?
Auburn Career Center graduates report a median $37,032 ten years after entry, $12,132 more than the $24,900 at Valley College-Cleveland. 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, Valley College-Cleveland or Auburn Career Center?
Auburn Career Center: its completers carry a median $6,365 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Valley College-Cleveland, a difference of $3,135. 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 57% at Valley College-Cleveland. 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.