Head-to-head comparison
Troy University vs Alabama A & M University: which has better ROI?
Option A Troy, AL
Troy University
- Net price / year
- $16,527
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,062
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Normal, AL
Alabama A & M University
- Net price / year
- $17,621
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,628
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Troy University comes closer — median earnings $42,062 against a $66,108 total, vs $40,628 at Alabama A & M University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Troy University | Alabama A & M University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,527 | $17,621 |
| Total net cost | $66,108 | $70,484 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,062 | $40,628 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$192,068 | -$225,124 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Troy University or Alabama A & M University?
Troy University, at $16,527 a year after aid versus $17,621 — a gap of $1,094 a year, or $4,376 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 Troy University or Alabama A & M University graduates earn more?
Troy University graduates report a median $42,062 ten years after entry, $1,434 more than the $40,628 at Alabama A & M University. 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, Troy University or Alabama A & M University?
Troy University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Alabama A & M University, a difference of $6,000. 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?
50% of students finish at Troy University, against 24% at Alabama A & M University. 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.