Head-to-head comparison
American National University vs Paul D Camp 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 Franklin, VA
Paul D Camp Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,126
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,031
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Paul D Camp Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,031 against a $8,252 total, vs $26,370 at American National University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American National University | Paul D Camp Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,036 | $4,126 |
| Total net cost | $36,072 | $8,252 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,370 | $36,031 |
| Median debt | $12,814 | $6,880 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$475,872 | -$254,832 |
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 Paul D Camp Community College?
Paul D Camp Community College, at $4,126 a year after aid versus $18,036 — a gap of $13,910 a year, or $27,820 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 Paul D Camp Community College graduates earn more?
Paul D Camp Community College graduates report a median $36,031 ten years after entry, $9,661 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 leaves students with less debt, American National University or Paul D Camp Community College?
Paul D Camp Community College: its completers carry a median $6,880 in federal loans versus $12,814 at American National University, a difference of $5,934. 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 Paul D Camp 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.