Head-to-head comparison
Troy University vs Auburn University at Montgomery: 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 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 $42,062 at Troy University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Troy University | Auburn University at Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,527 | $13,224 |
| Total net cost | $66,108 | $52,896 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,062 | $44,391 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$192,068 | -$132,276 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Troy University or Auburn University at Montgomery?
Auburn University at Montgomery, at $13,224 a year after aid versus $16,527 — a gap of $3,303 a year, or $13,212 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 Auburn University at Montgomery graduates earn more?
Auburn University at Montgomery graduates report a median $44,391 ten years after entry, $2,329 more than the $42,062 at Troy 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 Auburn University at Montgomery?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Troy University, 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.