Lone Star College System vs Dallas College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Dallas College comes closer — median earnings $41,714 against a $6,428 total, vs $42,466 at Lone Star College System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lone Star College System | Dallas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,252 | $3,214 |
| Total net cost | $22,504 | $6,428 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,466 | $41,714 |
| Median debt | $8,600 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$140,384 | -$139,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lone Star College System or Dallas College?
Dallas College, at $3,214 a year after aid versus $11,252 — a gap of $8,038 a year, or $16,076 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lone Star College System or Dallas College graduates earn more?
Lone Star College System graduates report a median $42,466 ten years after entry, $752 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, Lone Star College System or Dallas College?
Lone Star College System: its completers carry a median $8,600 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Dallas College, a difference of $900. 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 21% at Lone Star College System. 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.