Alpena Community College
Alpena Community College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Alpena Community College at a Glance
Alpena Community College (ACC) is a public community college in Alpena, Michigan. It was founded in 1952. The college has a 700-acre (280 ha) main campus in Alpena and another campus, Huron Shores, located in Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan.
1952
74 years old
$3M
$3.3 million
2,000
125
700 acres
Identity
Is Alpena Community College Worth It?
Alpena Community College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $3,320/year net price and $36,442 median earnings, graduates earn 11.0× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 51% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: Alpena Community College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Alpena Community College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 31 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #2 | North Florida College | 100 | $804 | $33,929 |
| #3 | Haskell Indian Nations University | 90 | $3,134 | $37,043 |
| #4 | American Samoa Community College | 89 | $3,386 | $30,087 |
| #5 | Grays Harbor College | 75 | $4,783 | $40,865 |
| #6 | Bay Mills Community College | 74 | $3,073 | $30,048 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Alpena Community College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in MI.
Best Programs at Alpena Community College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Alpena Community College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $3,320/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in MI
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Alpena, MI
- Student Body
- 732 students
- Graduation Rate
- 51%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,320
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $36,442
- Median Student Debt
- $9,024