Head-to-head comparison
Alabama A & M University vs Chattahoochee Valley Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Normal, AL
Alabama A & M University
- Net price / year
- $17,621
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,628
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Phenix City, AL
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,244
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,438
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alabama A & M University comes closer — median earnings $40,628 against a $70,484 total, vs $36,438 at Chattahoochee Valley Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alabama A & M University | Chattahoochee Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,621 | $4,244 |
| Total net cost | $70,484 | $8,488 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,628 | $36,438 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,124 | -$246,928 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alabama A & M University or Chattahoochee Valley Community College?
Chattahoochee Valley Community College, at $4,244 a year after aid versus $17,621 — a gap of $13,377 a year, or $61,996 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Alabama A & M University or Chattahoochee Valley Community College graduates earn more?
Alabama A & M University graduates report a median $40,628 ten years after entry, $4,190 more than the $36,438 at Chattahoochee Valley 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Alabama A & M University or Chattahoochee Valley Community College?
Chattahoochee Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Alabama A & M University, a difference of $20,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
36% of students finish at Chattahoochee Valley Community College, against 24% at Alabama A & M University. 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.