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

Public, Dallas TX · vs · Public, Amarillo TX

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Dallas College comes closer — median earnings $41,714 against a $6,428 total, vs $41,302 at Amarillo College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureDallas CollegeAmarillo College
Net price / yr$3,214$4,600
Total net cost$6,428$9,200
Median earnings, 10 yrs$41,714$41,302
Median debt$9,500$15,000
Payback
20-year net return-$139,348-$150,360

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

Which is cheaper, Dallas College or Amarillo College?

Dallas College, at $3,214 a year after aid versus $4,600 — a gap of $1,386 a year, or $2,772 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Dallas College or Amarillo College graduates earn more?

Dallas College graduates report a median $41,714 ten years after entry, $412 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, Dallas College or Amarillo College?

Dallas College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $5,500. 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 Dallas 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.

Dallas College vs Amarillo College: frequently asked questions

Is Dallas College or Amarillo College a better value?
Dallas 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, Dallas College or Amarillo College?
Dallas College: $3,214/yr net price after aid versus $4,600/yr at Amarillo College — a difference of $1,386 a year, or about $2,772 over four years.
Do Dallas College or Amarillo College graduates earn more?
Dallas College graduates earn a median $41,714 ten years after entry, versus $41,302 at Amarillo College — a $412 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.