Head-to-head comparison
Alabama A & M University vs University of Montevallo: 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 Montevallo, AL
University of Montevallo
- Net price / year
- $17,683
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,957
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Montevallo comes closer — median earnings $42,957 against a $70,732 total, vs $40,628 at Alabama A & M University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alabama A & M University | University of Montevallo |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,621 | $17,683 |
| Total net cost | $70,484 | $70,732 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,628 | $42,957 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $24,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,124 | -$178,792 |
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 University of Montevallo?
Alabama A & M University, at $17,621 a year after aid versus $17,683 — a gap of $62 a year, or $248 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 University of Montevallo graduates earn more?
University of Montevallo graduates report a median $42,957 ten years after entry, $2,329 more than the $40,628 at Alabama A & M University. 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 University of Montevallo?
University of Montevallo: its completers carry a median $24,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Alabama A & M University, a difference of $7,000. 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?
54% of students finish at University of Montevallo, 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.