Austin College vs Center for Advanced Legal Studies: which has better ROI?
Austin College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $84,428 in 6.5 years versus 6.8 years at Center for Advanced Legal Studies, on median earnings of $61,296 vs $56,561 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Austin College | Center for Advanced Legal Studies |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,107 | $13,959 |
| Total net cost | $84,428 | $55,836 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,296 | $56,561 |
| Median debt | $24,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | 6.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $174,292 | $108,184 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Austin College or Center for Advanced Legal Studies?
Center for Advanced Legal Studies, at $13,959 a year after aid versus $21,107 — a gap of $7,148 a year, or $28,592 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Austin College or Center for Advanced Legal Studies graduates earn more?
Austin College graduates report a median $61,296 ten years after entry, $4,735 more than the $56,561 at Center for Advanced Legal Studies. 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, Austin College or Center for Advanced Legal Studies?
Center for Advanced Legal Studies: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $24,500 at Austin College, a difference of $15,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Austin College, against 62% at Center for Advanced Legal Studies. 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.