Alvin Community College vs Texas A&M University-Texarkana: 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 $45,515 at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alvin Community College | Texas A&M University-Texarkana |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,525 | $12,997 |
| Total net cost | $17,050 | $51,988 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,762 | $45,515 |
| Median debt | $4,519 | $18,953 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$69,010 | -$108,888 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Alvin Community College or Texas A&M University-Texarkana?
Alvin Community College, at $8,525 a year after aid versus $12,997 — a gap of $4,472 a year, or $34,938 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 Texas A&M University-Texarkana graduates earn more?
Alvin Community College graduates report a median $45,762 ten years after entry, $247 more than the $45,515 at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. 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 Texas A&M University-Texarkana?
Alvin Community College: its completers carry a median $4,519 in federal loans versus $18,953 at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, a difference of $14,434. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
30% of students finish at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, 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.