Head-to-head comparison
American National University vs Eastern Shore Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Salem, VA
American National University
- Net price / year
- $18,036
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,370
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Melfa, VA
Eastern Shore Community College
- Net price / year
- $2,495
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,418
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Eastern Shore Community College comes closer — median earnings $32,418 against a $9,980 total, vs $26,370 at American National University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American National University | Eastern Shore Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,036 | $2,495 |
| Total net cost | $36,072 | $9,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,370 | $32,418 |
| Median debt | $12,814 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$475,872 | -$328,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American National University or Eastern Shore Community College?
Eastern Shore Community College, at $2,495 a year after aid versus $18,036 — a gap of $15,541 a year, or $26,092 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 American National University or Eastern Shore Community College graduates earn more?
Eastern Shore Community College graduates report a median $32,418 ten years after entry, $6,048 more than the $26,370 at American National 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 graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Eastern Shore Community College, against 33% at American National 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.