Head-to-head comparison
North Central Michigan College vs Alpena Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Petoskey, MI
North Central Michigan College
- Net price / year
- $10,083
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,594
- 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 $36,594 at North Central Michigan College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Central Michigan College | Alpena Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,083 | $3,320 |
| Total net cost | $20,166 | $6,640 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,594 | $36,442 |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $9,024 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$255,486 | -$245,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, North Central Michigan College or Alpena Community College?
Alpena Community College, at $3,320 a year after aid versus $10,083 — a gap of $6,763 a year, or $13,526 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 North Central Michigan College or Alpena Community College graduates earn more?
North Central Michigan College graduates report a median $36,594 ten years after entry, $152 more than the $36,442 at Alpena 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, North Central Michigan College or Alpena Community College?
Alpena Community College: its completers carry a median $9,024 in federal loans versus $14,000 at North Central Michigan College, a difference of $4,976. 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 29% at North Central 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.