Northeast Alabama Community College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Alabama- Graduation Rate
- 53% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,913 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $2,756 A+
- 84% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,629
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 70.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $70.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Alabama.
Every $1 spent returns $70.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $766,200.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.17% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $70.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Northeast Alabama Community College Matters
Northeast Alabama Community College is a public college in Rainsville, AL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,629
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose Northeast Alabama 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 $2,756 a year after grants and scholarships — 84% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,913 ten years after enrolling — 14% below the typical college, against $6,100 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 23% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.74 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Northeast Alabama Community College has a net price of just $2,756, making it one of the most affordable options for students in the region. This low cost allows students to start their education without accumulating significant debt. With a median debt of only $6,100, graduates can enter the workforce with manageable financial burdens.
The earnings potential for graduates ten years after enrollment stands at $34,913. While mobility and economic connectedness data are not available, the college focuses on practical fields like Health Professions and Mechanic & Repair Tech, which typically lead to stable employment opportunities. This suggests that students who pursue these programs may experience a positive return on their educational investment.
Students who thrive here are those seeking a community-oriented environment with a strong emphasis on practical skills and hands-on learning. The college serves a diverse group of individuals, including those looking to enter the workforce quickly and those planning to transfer to four-year institutions. With a graduation rate of 53%, Northeast Alabama Community College supports students in reaching their academic and career goals while maintaining affordability.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Northeast Alabama 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 Northeast Alabama Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Rainsville, Alabama, Northeast Alabama Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
- Retention Rate
- 70%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 35%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,597
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.44
- First-Gen Students
- 58%
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 Northeast Alabama Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northeast Alabama Community College is $8,910, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $2,756. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,451 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,100 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,040
- Out-of-State
- $8,910
- Avg Net Price
- $2,756
- Median Debt
- $6,100
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 12%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,451
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $2,130
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,212
- Family Income $110K+
- $5,648
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Northeast Alabama Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Northeast Alabama Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northeast Alabama Community College report median earnings of $34,913, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,750
- 8 Years
- $32,882
- 10 Years
- $34,913
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.17x
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (171)
- 36%
- 100% (171)
- 36%
- 100% (171)
- 36%
- 100% (171)
- 36%
How Northeast 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 Northeast Alabama Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northeast Alabama Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,756/year ($11,024 total). Graduates earn $34,913 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $777,224 in total earnings — a net gain of $766,200 (70.5× your investment). The median debt is $6,100, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $11,024
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $777,224
- Net Return
- $766,200
- ROI Multiple
- 70.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $2,756
- Median Debt
- $6,100
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
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 Northeast Alabama Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northeast Alabama 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 2.17%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.17%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 12.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 17.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $72,280
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Top Programs
The fields Northeast Alabama Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 28%
- Health Professions 23% $54,633 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8% $56,154 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 6% $10,938 early-career
- Business & Marketing 4% $21,755 early-career
- Construction Trades 3%
- Precision Production 2%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Northeast Alabama Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northeast Alabama Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Rainsville, Alabama, Northeast Alabama Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northeast Alabama Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northeast Alabama Community College is $8,910, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $2,756. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,451 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,100 in federal student loans.
Is Northeast Alabama Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northeast Alabama Community College report median earnings of $34,913, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Northeast Alabama Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northeast Alabama 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 2.17%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Northeast Alabama 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 Northeast Alabama Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northeast Alabama Community College.
- Snead State Community CollegeBoaz, AL · Close peer49% grad $35,735 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Ashland Community and Technical CollegeAshland, KY · Close peer55% grad $34,504 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lamar State College-Port ArthurPort Arthur, TX · Close peer38% grad $37,120 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Northwest Shoals Community CollegeMuscle Shoals, AL · Close peer36% grad $33,828 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Hazard Community and Technical CollegeHazard, KY · Close peer47% grad $29,868 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro, NC · Close peer45% grad $33,267 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Northeast Alabama 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 Northeast Alabama Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note