Head-to-head comparison
Columbus Technical College vs Albany Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbus, GA
Columbus Technical College
- Net price / year
- $4,001
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,238
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Albany, GA
Albany Technical College
- Net price / year
- $4,524
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,541
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbus Technical College comes closer — median earnings $34,238 against a $16,004 total, vs $30,541 at Albany Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbus Technical College | Albany Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,001 | $4,524 |
| Total net cost | $16,004 | $18,096 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,238 | $30,541 |
| Median debt | $8,756 | $12,412 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$298,444 | -$374,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Columbus Technical College or Albany Technical College?
Columbus Technical College, at $4,001 a year after aid versus $4,524 — a gap of $523 a year, or $2,092 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 Columbus Technical College or Albany Technical College graduates earn more?
Columbus Technical College graduates report a median $34,238 ten years after entry, $3,697 more than the $30,541 at Albany 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 leaves students with less debt, Columbus Technical College or Albany Technical College?
Columbus Technical College: its completers carry a median $8,756 in federal loans versus $12,412 at Albany Technical College, a difference of $3,656. 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?
42% of students finish at Albany Technical College, against 27% at Columbus 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.