Head-to-head comparison
Lake Michigan College vs Alpena Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Benton Harbor, MI
Lake Michigan College
- Net price / year
- $6,680
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,466
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Alpena, MI
Alpena Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,320
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,442
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alpena Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,442 against a $6,640 total, vs $34,466 at Lake Michigan College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake Michigan College | Alpena Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,680 | $3,320 |
| Total net cost | $13,360 | $6,640 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,466 | $36,442 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $9,024 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$291,240 | -$245,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lake Michigan College or Alpena Community College?
Alpena Community College, at $3,320 a year after aid versus $6,680 — a gap of $3,360 a year, or $6,720 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 Lake Michigan College or Alpena Community College graduates earn more?
Alpena Community College graduates report a median $36,442 ten years after entry, $1,976 more than the $34,466 at Lake Michigan 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, Lake Michigan College or Alpena Community College?
Lake Michigan College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $9,024 at Alpena Community College, a difference of $24. 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?
52% of students finish at Alpena Community College, against 22% at Lake Michigan 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.