Head-to-head comparison
Jefferson State Community College vs Samford University: which has better ROI?
Option A Birmingham, AL
Jefferson State Community College
- Net price / year
- $9,086
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,719
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Birmingham, AL
Samford University
- Net price / year
- $32,622
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,469
- Payback
- 12.9 yrs
Samford University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $130,488 in 12.9 years versus not at all at Jefferson State Community College, on median earnings of $58,469 vs $40,719 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Jefferson State Community College | Samford University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,086 | $32,622 |
| Total net cost | $18,172 | $130,488 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,719 | $58,469 |
| Median debt | $9,689 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | 12.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$170,992 | $71,692 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Jefferson State Community College or Samford University?
Jefferson State Community College, at $9,086 a year after aid versus $32,622 — a gap of $23,536 a year, or $112,316 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 Jefferson State Community College or Samford University graduates earn more?
Samford University graduates report a median $58,469 ten years after entry, $17,750 more than the $40,719 at Jefferson State 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, Jefferson State Community College or Samford University?
Jefferson State Community College: its completers carry a median $9,689 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Samford University, a difference of $9,811. 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?
77% of students finish at Samford University, against 26% at Jefferson State 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.