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Head-to-head comparison

Alamance Community College vs Tri-County Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Graham NC · vs · Public, Murphy NC

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Option A Graham, NC

Alamance Community College

Net price / year
$6,109
Earnings, 10 years
$34,241
Payback
No payback

Option B Murphy, NC

Tri-County Community College

Net price / year
$7,799
Earnings, 10 years
$32,232
Payback
No payback
The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alamance Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,241 against a $24,436 total, vs $32,232 at Tri-County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAlamance Community CollegeTri-County Community College
Net price / yr$6,109$7,799
Total net cost$24,436$15,598
Median earnings, 10 yrs$34,241$32,232
Median debt——
Payback——
20-year net return-$306,816-$338,158

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

The short answer

Which is cheaper, Alamance Community College or Tri-County Community College?

Alamance Community College, at $6,109 a year after aid versus $7,799 — a gap of $1,690 a year, or $8,838 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 Alamance Community College or Tri-County Community College graduates earn more?

Alamance Community College graduates report a median $34,241 ten years after entry, $2,009 more than the $32,232 at Tri-County 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 graduates more of its students?

54% of students finish at Tri-County Community College, against 39% at Alamance 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.

Alamance Community College vs Tri-County Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Alamance Community College or Tri-County Community College a better value?
Alamance Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Alamance Community College or Tri-County Community College?
Alamance Community College: $6,109/yr net price after aid versus $7,799/yr at Tri-County Community College — a difference of $1,690 a year, or about $8,838 over four years.
Do Alamance Community College or Tri-County Community College graduates earn more?
Alamance Community College graduates earn a median $34,241 ten years after entry, versus $32,232 at Tri-County Community College — a $2,009 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.