Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Lurleen B Wallace Community College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Lurleen B Wallace Community College that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Lurleen B Wallace Community College

Andalusia, Alabama · Public

$2,792
Net Price
$32,307
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
41.9%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Lurleen B Wallace Community College

Lurleen B Wallace Community College posts an average net price of $2,792 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Lurleen B Wallace Community College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $3,056, achieved by Wilkes Community College at -$264. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Lurleen B Wallace Community College’s $32,307, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $36,482.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$3,056
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
83%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Cleveland Community College $34k 2. Wilkes Community College $35k 3. Victor Valley College $36k 4. Northeast Alabama Community $35k 5. Carroll Community College $44k Compared to Lurleen B Wallace Community College: $32k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

A negative College Scorecard net price means the institution reported average grant and scholarship aid above its cost-of-attendance estimate for the covered first-time, full-time aid recipients. It is a cohort average, not a promise that every student is paid to attend.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Cleveland Community College
Shelby, NC · Public Better Value
$995 -$1,797 $33,755 20.4% 83%
Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, NC · Public Better Value
-$264 -$3,056 $34,728 53.8% 71%
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA · Public Better Value
$1,947 -$845 $36,119 45.4% 64%
Northeast Alabama Community College
Rainsville, AL · Public Better Value
$2,756 -$36 $34,913 52.6% 62%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public Better Value
$2,725 -$67 $44,349 43.4% 57%
North Florida College
Madison, FL · Public Better Value
$804 -$1,988 $33,929 61.5% 55%
Johnston Community College
Smithfield, NC · Public Better Value
$1,776 -$1,016 $37,310 32.1% 53%
Imperial Valley College
Imperial, CA · Public Better Value
$1,115 -$1,677 $34,487 45.4% 53%
Trident Technical College
Charleston, SC · Public Better Value
$1,406 -$1,386 $38,253 29.2% 49%
Mercer County Technical Education Center
Princeton, WV · Public Better Value
$2,225 -$567 $33,511 80.8% 49%
Lamar State College-Orange
Orange, TX · Public Better Value
$1,655 -$1,137 $36,587 33.8% 48%
Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC · Public Better Value
$1,664 -$1,128 $36,142 39.8% 48%
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL · Public Better Value
$1,672 -$1,120 $42,889 20.7% 47%
West Shore Community College
Scottville, MI · Public Better Value
$1,527 -$1,265 $36,115 28.9% 47%
Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, NC · Public Better Value
$2,245 -$547 $34,148 53.0% 46%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Lurleen B Wallace Community College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Lurleen B Wallace Community College?
We found 15 schools similar to Lurleen B Wallace Community College that cost less. The closest match is Cleveland Community College with 83% similarity and a net price of $995.
What is the ROI of attending Lurleen B Wallace Community College?
Lurleen B Wallace Community College has an average net price of $2,792. Former students earn a median of $32,307 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 11.6x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Lurleen B Wallace Community College for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Cleveland Community College costs $995 (saving $1,797) with median earnings of $33,755.
What is the cheapest alternative to Lurleen B Wallace Community College?
The most affordable similar school is Wilkes Community College at -$264, saving $3,056 compared to Lurleen B Wallace Community College. It has a 71% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $36,482 compared to Lurleen B Wallace Community College's $32,307. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.