Head-to-head comparison
Alpena Community College vs Gogebic Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Alpena, MI
Alpena Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,320
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,442
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Ironwood, MI
Gogebic Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,397
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,950
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Gogebic Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,950 against a $10,794 total, vs $36,442 at Alpena Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alpena Community College | Gogebic Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,320 | $5,397 |
| Total net cost | $6,640 | $10,794 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,442 | $40,950 |
| Median debt | $9,024 | $10,925 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$245,000 | -$158,994 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alpena Community College or Gogebic Community College?
Alpena Community College, at $3,320 a year after aid versus $5,397 — a gap of $2,077 a year, or $4,154 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 Alpena Community College or Gogebic Community College graduates earn more?
Gogebic Community College graduates report a median $40,950 ten years after entry, $4,508 more than the $36,442 at Alpena 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, Alpena Community College or Gogebic Community College?
Alpena Community College: its completers carry a median $9,024 in federal loans versus $10,925 at Gogebic Community College, a difference of $1,901. 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?
52% of students finish at Alpena Community College, against 36% at Gogebic 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.