Head-to-head comparison
Auburn University at Montgomery vs J. F. Drake State Community and Technical 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 Huntsville, AL
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
- Net price / year
- $6,005
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,281
- 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 $28,281 at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auburn University at Montgomery | J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,224 | $6,005 |
| Total net cost | $52,896 | $24,020 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,391 | $28,281 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$132,276 | -$425,600 |
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 J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College?
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College, at $6,005 a year after aid versus $13,224 — a gap of $7,219 a year, or $28,876 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 J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College graduates earn more?
Auburn University at Montgomery graduates report a median $44,391 ten years after entry, $16,110 more than the $28,281 at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical 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 graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at Auburn University at Montgomery, against 14% at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical 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.