Head-to-head comparison
Central Alabama Community College vs Herzing University-Birmingham: which has better ROI?
Option A Alexander City, AL
Central Alabama Community College
- Net price / year
- $15,996
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,506
- 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 Herzing University-Birmingham comes closer — median earnings $36,909 against a $39,302 total, vs $33,506 at Central Alabama Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Alabama Community College | Herzing University-Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,996 | $19,651 |
| Total net cost | $63,984 | $39,302 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,506 | $36,909 |
| Median debt | $9,766 | $21,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$361,064 | -$268,322 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Central Alabama Community College or Herzing University-Birmingham?
Central Alabama Community College, at $15,996 a year after aid versus $19,651 — a gap of $3,655 a year, or $24,682 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 Central Alabama Community College or Herzing University-Birmingham graduates earn more?
Herzing University-Birmingham graduates report a median $36,909 ten years after entry, $3,403 more than the $33,506 at Central Alabama 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, Central Alabama Community College or Herzing University-Birmingham?
Central Alabama Community College: its completers carry a median $9,766 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Herzing University-Birmingham, a difference of $11,734. 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 Central Alabama Community College, 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.