Amarillo College vs Texas A&M University-Texarkana: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Texas A&M University-Texarkana comes closer — median earnings $45,515 against a $51,988 total, vs $41,302 at Amarillo College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Amarillo College | Texas A&M University-Texarkana |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,600 | $12,997 |
| Total net cost | $9,200 | $51,988 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,302 | $45,515 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $18,953 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,360 | -$108,888 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or Texas A&M University-Texarkana?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $12,997 — a gap of $8,397 a year, or $42,788 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 Texas A&M University-Texarkana graduates earn more?
Texas A&M University-Texarkana graduates report a median $45,515 ten years after entry, $4,213 more than the $41,302 at Amarillo 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 Texas A&M University-Texarkana?
Amarillo College: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $18,953 at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, a difference of $3,953. 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 Texas A&M University-Texarkana. 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.