Del Mar College vs Amarillo College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Amarillo College comes closer — median earnings $41,302 against a $9,200 total, vs $38,656 at Del Mar College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Del Mar College | Amarillo College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,399 | $4,600 |
| Total net cost | $6,798 | $9,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,656 | $41,302 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$200,878 | -$150,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Del Mar College or Amarillo College?
Del Mar College, at $3,399 a year after aid versus $4,600 — a gap of $1,201 a year, or $2,402 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 Amarillo College graduates earn more?
Amarillo College graduates report a median $41,302 ten years after entry, $2,646 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 Amarillo College?
Del Mar College: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $9,500. 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 Amarillo 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.