Amarillo College vs Wharton County Junior College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Wharton County Junior College comes closer — median earnings $44,960 against a $9,332 total, vs $41,302 at Amarillo College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Amarillo College | Wharton County Junior College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,600 | $4,666 |
| Total net cost | $9,200 | $9,332 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,302 | $44,960 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $7,703 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,360 | -$77,332 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or Wharton County Junior College?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $4,666 — a gap of $66 a year, or $132 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 Wharton County Junior College graduates earn more?
Wharton County Junior College graduates report a median $44,960 ten years after entry, $3,658 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 Wharton County Junior College?
Wharton County Junior College: its completers carry a median $7,703 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $7,297. 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 27% at Wharton County Junior 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.