Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Northeast Alabama Community College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Northeast Alabama Community College that cost less. 9 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Northeast Alabama Community College

Rainsville, Alabama · Public

$2,756
Net Price
$34,913
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
52.6%
150%-Time Completion

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

Northeast Alabama Community College posts an average net price of $2,756 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 Northeast Alabama 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 $3,020, achieved by Wilkes Community College at -$264. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 9 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Northeast Alabama Community College’s $34,913, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $36,453.

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
$3,020
Max Savings
9
Better Value Options
92%
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. Wilkes Community College $35k 2. Cleveland Community College $34k 3. Victor Valley College $36k 4. West Virginia University at $35k 5. Johnston Community College $37k Compared to Northeast Alabama Community College: $35k.

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
Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, NC · Public
-$264 -$3,020 $34,728 53.8% 92%
Cleveland Community College
Shelby, NC · Public
$995 -$1,761 $33,755 20.4% 73%
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA · Public Better Value
$1,947 -$809 $36,119 45.4% 70%
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV · Public Better Value
$1,807 -$949 $35,171 20.0% 65%
Johnston Community College
Smithfield, NC · Public Better Value
$1,776 -$980 $37,310 32.1% 63%
Chipola College
Marianna, FL · Public Better Value
$1,133 -$1,623 $37,378 57.2% 62%
Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, NC · Public
$2,245 -$511 $34,148 53.0% 62%
Lamar State College-Orange
Orange, TX · Public Better Value
$1,655 -$1,101 $36,587 33.8% 60%
Trident Technical College
Charleston, SC · Public Better Value
$1,406 -$1,350 $38,253 29.2% 59%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public Better Value
$2,725 -$31 $44,349 43.4% 58%
Bridgerland Technical College
Logan, UT · Public Better Value
$2,338 -$418 $38,347 70.3% 58%
Manatee Technical College
Bradenton, FL · Public Better Value
$1,808 -$948 $38,129 71.7% 57%
College of the Albemarle
Elizabeth City, NC · Public
$2,253 -$503 $33,234 37.1% 57%
Imperial Valley College
Imperial, CA · Public
$1,115 -$1,641 $34,487 45.4% 55%
Henry Ford College
Dearborn, MI · Public
$660 -$2,096 $34,795 13.8% 53%

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 Northeast Alabama 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 Northeast Alabama Community College?
We found 15 schools similar to Northeast Alabama Community College that cost less. The closest match is Wilkes Community College with 92% similarity and a net price of -$264.
What is the ROI of attending Northeast Alabama Community College?
Northeast Alabama Community College has an average net price of $2,756. Former students earn a median of $34,913 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 12.7x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Northeast Alabama Community College for less money?
Yes - 9 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Victor Valley College costs $1,947 (saving $809) with median earnings of $36,119.
What is the cheapest alternative to Northeast Alabama Community College?
The most affordable similar school is Wilkes Community College at -$264, saving $3,020 compared to Northeast Alabama Community College. It has a 92% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $36,453 compared to Northeast Alabama Community College's $34,913. 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.