Head-to-head comparison
Auburn University at Montgomery vs Chattahoochee Valley Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Montgomery, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery
- Net price / year
- $13,224
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,391
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Phenix City, AL
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,244
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,438
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Auburn University at Montgomery comes closer — median earnings $44,391 against a $52,896 total, vs $36,438 at Chattahoochee Valley Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auburn University at Montgomery | Chattahoochee Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,224 | $4,244 |
| Total net cost | $52,896 | $8,488 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,391 | $36,438 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$132,276 | -$246,928 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Auburn University at Montgomery or Chattahoochee Valley Community College?
Chattahoochee Valley Community College, at $4,244 a year after aid versus $13,224 — a gap of $8,980 a year, or $44,408 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 Auburn University at Montgomery or Chattahoochee Valley Community College graduates earn more?
Auburn University at Montgomery graduates report a median $44,391 ten years after entry, $7,953 more than the $36,438 at Chattahoochee Valley 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, Auburn University at Montgomery or Chattahoochee Valley Community College?
Chattahoochee Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Auburn University at Montgomery, a difference of $14,500. 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 Chattahoochee Valley Community College, against 33% at Auburn University at Montgomery. 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.