At $14,042/yr net price, George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville graduates earn $39,842/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $5,842/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $14,042 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $56,168 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $39,842/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$5,842/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 9.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 48.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $11,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,407/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,233/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,606/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,996/yr |
| $110,001+ | $18,676/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 | $48,988 | $13,124 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $42,682 | $13,000 |
| Engineering Technology, General. | Associate | $38,289 | |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Associate | $36,437 | $8,750 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Associate | $36,041 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $35,772 | $9,771 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | Associate | $33,993 | $10,750 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Certificate | $32,925 | $7,944 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Certificate | $29,141 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $24,267 | $9,991 |
The Risk Factor
48.2% of students at George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville gives you a modest but real financial return, with median debt around $11,000 that stays low enough to pay back on a $39,842 median salary. The math works because you borrow little, not because the payoff is large.
Nursing is the clear winner here. An associate degree in Registered Nursing pays nearly $49,000, about $10,000 more than the school-wide median, and it feeds directly into Alabama's hospital and clinic demand. Allied Health follows at $42,682. Dental Support Services stands out for a different reason: it carries the lowest debt of any listed program at $8,750, so even at $36,437 in earnings your return per borrowed dollar is strong. Health and Medical Administrative Services sits at the bottom of the earnings list, and Engineering Technology lands in the middle without a debt figure to weigh it against.
The main risk is completion. Fewer than half of you finish, and if you leave with debt and no credential, you get the cost without the nursing or allied-health salary that justifies it. Every strong earnings number here is tied to a health credential, so a program outside that cluster is a weaker bet.
Net price climbs sharply with income. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $12,400. over $110,000, you pay about $18,700. Lower-income families get a meaningful discount, but no tier here is cheap for a two-year school.
This school fits you if you want a nursing or allied-health career in northern Alabama and plan to finish. Look elsewhere if you're undecided on major, since the non-health programs here don't clearly beat the $14,042 yearly price, and the low debt only protects you if you graduate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville worth the money?
With a net price of $14,042 and median earnings of $39,842 after 10 years, the school offers decent value for healthcare programs but weaker returns for other fields. The 48% graduation rate means about half of students don't finish.
What are the highest paying programs at George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville?
Registered nursing graduates earn around $48,988 annually, making it the best ROI program at the school. Allied health diagnostic programs ($42,682) and engineering technology ($38,289) also provide solid returns compared to the cost.
How much debt do students graduate with from George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville?
The median debt is $11,000, which is manageable for nursing and allied health graduates but could be problematic for lower-earning programs. Students in healthcare fields can typically handle this debt load given their earning potential.
Does George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville have good job prospects after graduation?
Job prospects depend heavily on your program choice - nursing and healthcare graduates find steady work with decent pay, but other programs may struggle to justify the investment. The school's strength is clearly in healthcare training rather than general education.