Dallas College vs Southern Methodist University: which has better ROI?
Southern Methodist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $163,568 in 5.5 years versus not at all at Dallas College, on median earnings of $78,354 vs $41,714 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dallas College | Southern Methodist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,214 | $40,892 |
| Total net cost | $6,428 | $163,568 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,714 | $78,354 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$139,348 | $436,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Dallas College or Southern Methodist University?
Dallas College, at $3,214 a year after aid versus $40,892 — a gap of $37,678 a year, or $157,140 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 Southern Methodist University graduates earn more?
Southern Methodist University graduates report a median $78,354 ten years after entry, $36,640 more than the $41,714 at Dallas 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 Southern Methodist University?
Dallas College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Southern Methodist University, a difference of $10,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Southern Methodist University, against 32% at Dallas 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.