Gadsden State Community College
#6 Most Affordable HBCUsBottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 52.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $52.5 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Most Affordable HBCUs.
Every $1 spent returns $52.5 over 20 years. Net gain: $724,036.
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What The Data Says
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduation of 35% — 38% below the national average.
Every $1 invested returns $52.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Gadsden State Community College
Gadsden State Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 3,548
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Humanities, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose Gadsden State Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $3,515 a year after grants and scholarships — 79% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,937 ten years after enrolling — 19% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 29% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.75 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Gadsden State Community College has a net price of just $3,515, making it one of the more affordable options in Alabama for students seeking higher education. This low cost can be a game changer for many, allowing students to minimize debt while pursuing their academic goals.
The college has a graduation rate of 35%. This figure suggests that while many students begin their journey at Gadsden State, completing a degree remains a challenge for some. However, the school does serve a significant number of Pell Grant recipients, indicating a commitment to supporting low-income students. This context is essential for understanding the environment and challenges students may face.
With a 10-year earnings average of $32,937, graduates can expect to see a reasonable return on their investment. Programs in Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Culinary Services stand out, attracting students looking for practical skills that lead to immediate employment. Gadsden State caters to those who thrive in hands-on learning environments and value affordability.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Gadsden State Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Gadsden State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Gadsden, Alabama, Gadsden State Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 35%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Gadsden State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Gadsden State Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,368 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $3,515 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,438 after need-based grants.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Gadsden State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Gadsden State Community College report median earnings of $32,937; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Gadsden Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Gadsden State Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Gadsden State Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,515/year ($14,060 total). Graduates earn $32,937 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $738,096 in total earnings — a net gain of $724,036 (52.5× your investment).. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Gadsden State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Gadsden State Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.96%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 21.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $52,000, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Gadsden State Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Gadsden State Community College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Gadsden State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Gadsden, Alabama, Gadsden State Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Gadsden State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Gadsden State Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,368 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $3,515 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,438 after need-based grants.
Is Gadsden State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Gadsden State Community College report median earnings of $32,937; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does Gadsden State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Gadsden State Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.96%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 21.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $52,000, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Gadsden State Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs below average at Gadsden State Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.75 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Gadsden State Community College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Gadsden State Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs below average at Gadsden State Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.75 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note