At $4,751/yr net price, College of the Albemarle graduates earn $33,234/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $4,751 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $19,004 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $33,234/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-766/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 39.0% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $3,667/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,702/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,876/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $7,548/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 | $52,107 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $18,315 | |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services. | Certificate | $16,820 |
The Risk Factor
39.0% of students at College of the Albemarle 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
College of the Albemarle keeps your upfront costs low, and that changes the math on everything else. At roughly $4,751 a year, your total tuition bill stays small enough that even modest earnings can justify the spend. The problem sits on the earnings side, where the typical graduate lands around $33,000 a decade out.
Nursing is the reason to come here. The associate nursing program pays roughly triple what the general studies track does, and it clears the school's median earnings by a wide margin. If you enroll and finish the RN program, the numbers work strongly in your favor: low cost in, a real credential out, and a regional health care job market that hires two-year nurses. That is the payoff path at this school, and it is a narrow one.
Almost everything else here underperforms. Liberal arts and general studies graduates earn less than $19,000, and the culinary certificate lands even lower. These are transfer-oriented or entry-level credentials, and on their own they do not move your income. If you plan to stop at the associate level in one of these fields, expect weak returns.
The biggest financial risk is the 39% graduation rate. If you borrow or spend time and leave without the credential, you get the cost with none of the nursing payoff. Two-year completion is where this school loses people.
Net price barely moves across income bands, staying under $8,000 even at the $75-110k level, so no family here faces a punishing sticker shock. This school fits you if you can get into and finish nursing, or if you treat it as a cheap first two years before transferring for a bachelor's degree. Look elsewhere if you want a terminal associate degree in liberal arts or culinary and need it to pay your bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is College of the Albemarle worth the cost compared to other schools?
College of the Albemarle has a very low net price at $4,751 per year, but graduates earn only $33,234 annually after 10 years. The 39% graduation rate means most students don't finish their programs.
What are the best paying programs at College of the Albemarle?
Nursing programs at College of the Albemarle lead to median earnings of $52,107, making them the clear financial winners. Liberal arts graduates earn $18,315 and culinary arts graduates earn $16,820, both well below national averages.
How much debt do College of the Albemarle students typically graduate with?
The low net price of $4,751 per year means students can graduate with minimal debt if they complete their programs. However, with only 39% of students graduating, many leave with some debt but no degree.
Does College of the Albemarle provide good financial aid?
College of the Albemarle's net price of $4,751 suggests decent financial aid coverage for a community college. The main risk is the low graduation rate, not the cost of attendance.