Degree Dividend
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Amarillo College vs Laredo College: which has better ROI?

Public, Amarillo TX · vs · Public, Laredo TX

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Amarillo College comes closer — median earnings $41,302 against a $9,200 total, vs $33,934 at Laredo College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAmarillo CollegeLaredo College
Net price / yr$4,600$5,798
Total net cost$9,200$11,596
Median earnings, 10 yrs$41,302$33,934
Median debt$15,000$2,959
Payback
20-year net return-$150,360-$300,116

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or Laredo College?

Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $5,798 — a gap of $1,198 a year, or $2,396 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Amarillo College or Laredo College graduates earn more?

Amarillo College graduates report a median $41,302 ten years after entry, $7,368 more than the $33,934 at Laredo College. 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, Amarillo College or Laredo College?

Laredo College: its completers carry a median $2,959 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $12,041. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

32% of students finish at Amarillo College, against 30% at Laredo 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.

Amarillo College vs Laredo College: frequently asked questions

Is Amarillo College or Laredo College a better value?
Amarillo College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or Laredo College?
Amarillo College: $4,600/yr net price after aid versus $5,798/yr at Laredo College — a difference of $1,198 a year, or about $2,396 over four years.
Do Amarillo College or Laredo College graduates earn more?
Amarillo College graduates earn a median $41,302 ten years after entry, versus $33,934 at Laredo College — a $7,368 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.