At $5,814/yr net price, Chattahoochee Valley Community College graduates earn $36,438/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $2,438/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $5,814 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $23,256 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $36,438/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$2,438/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 9.5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 36.1% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $10,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $3,228/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,064/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,671/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $10,522/yr |
| $110,001+ | $11,047/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $57,860 | $13,133 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $24,035 | $7,621 |
The Risk Factor
36.1% of students at Chattahoochee Valley Community College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Chattahoochee Valley Community College costs little and returns a modest amount, which makes the nursing track the one clear win and everything else a gamble on transfer. At under $6,000 a year, the price is low, and your median debt at graduation stays around a used-car level. But the median graduate earns roughly $36,000 ten years out, so this school pays off only if you pick the right program and actually finish.
Nursing is the reason to come here. The associate nursing degree leads to earnings near $58,000, more than double what the general studies associate degree returns at about $24,000. That $24,000 figure barely clears what a full-time minimum-wage job pays, and it carries real debt with little to show for it. Liberal arts and general studies here work only as a stepping stone to a four-year school. Treat that associate degree as a finish line and you lose.
The biggest risk is the graduation rate: only about a third of students finish. If you drop out with debt and no credential, none of the low sticker price helps you. This is the specific danger at a school where the non-nursing payoff is already thin.
The income tiers matter a lot here. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay around $3,200 a year, and nursing turns that into a strong deal. If your family earns over $110,000, you pay closer to $11,000, and the general studies path stops making financial sense at that price.
Come here for nursing, or come here to knock out cheap credits and transfer with a plan. If you want a bachelor's-level career and no intention to move on, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chattahoochee Valley Community College worth the cost?
At $5,814 per year, Chattahoochee Valley Community College offers affordable tuition, but graduates earn just $36,438 annually after 10 years. The nursing programs provide better value with $57,860 median earnings, while liberal arts graduates earn only $24,035.
What is the graduation rate at Chattahoochee Valley Community College?
Only 36% of students graduate from Chattahoochee Valley Community College. This low completion rate means many students leave with debt but no degree, making the investment riskier than schools with higher graduation rates.
How much debt do Chattahoochee Valley Community College students graduate with?
The median debt at Chattahoochee Valley Community College is $10,500. While this is relatively low for higher education, it represents nearly one-third of typical graduate earnings, which creates a challenging debt-to-income ratio.
Which programs at Chattahoochee Valley Community College have the best ROI?
Nursing programs at Chattahoochee Valley Community College offer the strongest return, with graduates earning $57,860 annually. Liberal arts and general studies programs show poor ROI, with graduates earning just $24,035 despite similar education costs.