Alvin Community College vs Huston-Tillotson University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alvin Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,762 against a $17,050 total, vs $42,937 at Huston-Tillotson University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alvin Community College | Huston-Tillotson University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,525 | $19,719 |
| Total net cost | $17,050 | $78,876 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,762 | $42,937 |
| Median debt | $4,519 | $30,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$69,010 | -$187,336 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alvin Community College or Huston-Tillotson University?
Alvin Community College, at $8,525 a year after aid versus $19,719 — a gap of $11,194 a year, or $61,826 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Alvin Community College or Huston-Tillotson University graduates earn more?
Alvin Community College graduates report a median $45,762 ten years after entry, $2,825 more than the $42,937 at Huston-Tillotson University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Alvin Community College or Huston-Tillotson University?
Alvin Community College: its completers carry a median $4,519 in federal loans versus $30,750 at Huston-Tillotson University, a difference of $26,231. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
34% of students finish at Huston-Tillotson University, against 24% at Alvin Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.