Del Mar College vs Alvin Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alvin Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,762 against a $17,050 total, vs $38,656 at Del Mar College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Del Mar College | Alvin Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,399 | $8,525 |
| Total net cost | $6,798 | $17,050 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,656 | $45,762 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | $4,519 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$200,878 | -$69,010 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Del Mar College or Alvin Community College?
Del Mar College, at $3,399 a year after aid versus $8,525 — a gap of $5,126 a year, or $10,252 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Del Mar College or Alvin Community College graduates earn more?
Alvin Community College graduates report a median $45,762 ten years after entry, $7,106 more than the $38,656 at Del Mar 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, Del Mar College or Alvin Community College?
Alvin Community College: its completers carry a median $4,519 in federal loans versus $5,500 at Del Mar College, a difference of $981. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
24% of students finish at Alvin Community College, against 11% at Del Mar 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.