Head-to-head comparison
Central Alabama Community College vs Oakwood University: 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 Huntsville, AL
Oakwood University
- Net price / year
- $25,669
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,488
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Oakwood University comes closer — median earnings $42,488 against a $102,676 total, vs $33,506 at Central Alabama Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Alabama Community College | Oakwood University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,996 | $25,669 |
| Total net cost | $63,984 | $102,676 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,506 | $42,488 |
| Median debt | $9,766 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$361,064 | -$220,116 |
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 Oakwood University?
Central Alabama Community College, at $15,996 a year after aid versus $25,669 — a gap of $9,673 a year, or $38,692 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 Oakwood University graduates earn more?
Oakwood University graduates report a median $42,488 ten years after entry, $8,982 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 Oakwood University?
Central Alabama Community College: its completers carry a median $9,766 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Oakwood University, a difference of $17,234. 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?
45% of students finish at Oakwood University, against 33% at Central Alabama Community 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.