2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Nash Community College

Open-data reference.

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

Your School

Nash Community College

Rocky Mount, North Carolina · Public

$3,338
Net Price
$34,912
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Nash Community College

Nash Community College posts an average net price of $3,338 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 Nash Community College across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $3,270, achieved by New Mexico State University-Grants at $68. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Nash Community College’s $34,912, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $39,515.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$3,270
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
64%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

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 Top 5 1. New Mexico State University- $39k 2. Bridgerland Technical Colleg $38k 3. Manatee Technical College $38k 4. College of the Mainland $40k 5. Chipola College $37k Compared to Nash Community College: $35k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
New Mexico State University-Grants
Grants, NM · Public Better Value
$68 -$3,270 $39,067 N/A 64%
Bridgerland Technical College
Logan, UT · Public Better Value
$2,338 -$1,000 $38,347 N/A 64%
Manatee Technical College
Bradenton, FL · Public Better Value
$1,808 -$1,530 $38,129 N/A 63%
College of the Mainland
Texas City, TX · Public Better Value
$1,342 -$1,996 $39,639 29.8% 62%
Chipola College
Marianna, FL · Public Better Value
$1,133 -$2,205 $37,378 57.2% 62%
Dallas College
Dallas, TX · Public Better Value
$3,214 -$124 $41,714 34.0% 54%
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL · Public Better Value
$2,829 -$509 $43,892 N/A 53%
Johnston Community College
Smithfield, NC · Public Better Value
$1,776 -$1,562 $37,310 N/A 51%
Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby, IL · Public Better Value
$2,232 -$1,106 $40,810 N/A 49%
Erwin Technical College
Tampa, FL · Public Better Value
$2,796 -$542 $37,966 N/A 48%
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL · Public Better Value
$2,254 -$1,084 $38,877 N/A 47%
Southwest College for the Deaf
Big Spring, TX · Public Better Value
$2,458 -$880 $38,382 N/A 47%
Trident Technical College
Charleston, SC · Public Better Value
$1,406 -$1,932 $38,253 N/A 47%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public Better Value
$2,725 -$613 $44,349 N/A 46%
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kalamazoo, MI · Public Better Value
$2,979 -$359 $38,618 N/A 46%

How We Match Schools

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

Only schools with a lower average net price than Nash 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 Nash Community College?
We found 15 schools similar to Nash Community College that cost less. The closest match is New Mexico State University-Grants with 64% similarity and a net price of $68.
What is the ROI of attending Nash Community College?
Nash Community College has an average net price of $3,338. Graduates earn a median of $34,912 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 10.5x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Nash Community College for less money?
Yes — 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. New Mexico State University-Grants costs $68 (saving $3,270) with median earnings of $39,067.
What is the cheapest alternative to Nash Community College?
The most affordable similar school is New Mexico State University-Grants at $68, saving $3,270 compared to Nash Community College. It has a 64% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $39,515 compared to Nash Community College's $34,912. 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.