Head-to-head comparison
Auburn University at Montgomery vs Herzing University-Birmingham: 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 Birmingham, AL
Herzing University-Birmingham
- Net price / year
- $19,651
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,909
- 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 $36,909 at Herzing University-Birmingham. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auburn University at Montgomery | Herzing University-Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,224 | $19,651 |
| Total net cost | $52,896 | $39,302 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,391 | $36,909 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $21,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$132,276 | -$268,322 |
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 Herzing University-Birmingham?
Auburn University at Montgomery, at $13,224 a year after aid versus $19,651 — a gap of $6,427 a year, or $13,594 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 Herzing University-Birmingham graduates earn more?
Auburn University at Montgomery graduates report a median $44,391 ten years after entry, $7,482 more than the $36,909 at Herzing University-Birmingham. 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 Herzing University-Birmingham?
Herzing University-Birmingham: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Auburn University at Montgomery, a difference of $3,500. 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?
33% of students finish at Auburn University at Montgomery, against 13% at Herzing University-Birmingham. 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.