Head-to-head comparison
Southern Union State Community College vs Auburn University at Montgomery: which has better ROI?
Option A Wadley, AL
Southern Union State Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,142
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,597
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Montgomery, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery
- Net price / year
- $13,224
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,391
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Auburn University at Montgomery comes closer — median earnings $44,391 against a $52,896 total, vs $36,597 at Southern Union State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Union State Community College | Auburn University at Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,142 | $13,224 |
| Total net cost | $24,568 | $52,896 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,597 | $44,391 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$259,828 | -$132,276 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southern Union State Community College or Auburn University at Montgomery?
Southern Union State Community College, at $6,142 a year after aid versus $13,224 — a gap of $7,082 a year, or $28,328 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 Southern Union State Community College or Auburn University at Montgomery graduates earn more?
Auburn University at Montgomery graduates report a median $44,391 ten years after entry, $7,794 more than the $36,597 at Southern Union 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, Southern Union State Community College or Auburn University at Montgomery?
Southern Union State Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Auburn University at Montgomery, a difference of $14,000. 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?
36% of students finish at Southern Union State Community College, against 33% at Auburn University at Montgomery. 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.