Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Amarillo College vs Paris Junior College: which has better ROI?

Public, Amarillo TX · vs · Public, Paris 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 $36,515 at Paris Junior College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureAmarillo CollegeParis Junior College
Net price / yr$4,600$7,690
Total net cost$9,200$15,380
Median earnings, 10 yrs$41,302$36,515
Median debt$15,000$5,342
Payback
20-year net return-$150,360-$252,280

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

Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or Paris Junior College?

Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $7,690 — a gap of $3,090 a year, or $6,180 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 Paris Junior College graduates earn more?

Amarillo College graduates report a median $41,302 ten years after entry, $4,787 more than the $36,515 at Paris Junior 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 Paris Junior College?

Paris Junior College: its completers carry a median $5,342 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $9,658. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

38% of students finish at Paris Junior College, against 32% at Amarillo 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 Paris Junior College: frequently asked questions

Is Amarillo College or Paris Junior 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 Paris Junior College?
Amarillo College: $4,600/yr net price after aid versus $7,690/yr at Paris Junior College — a difference of $3,090 a year, or about $6,180 over four years.
Do Amarillo College or Paris Junior College graduates earn more?
Amarillo College graduates earn a median $41,302 ten years after entry, versus $36,515 at Paris Junior College — a $4,787 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.