San Antonio College vs Northwest Vista College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northwest Vista College comes closer — median earnings $42,490 against a $9,050 total, vs $39,711 at San Antonio College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Antonio College | Northwest Vista College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,585 | $4,525 |
| Total net cost | $9,170 | $9,050 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,711 | $42,490 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $9,400 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$182,150 | -$126,450 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, San Antonio College or Northwest Vista College?
Northwest Vista College, at $4,525 a year after aid versus $4,585 — a gap of $60 a year, or $120 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do San Antonio College or Northwest Vista College graduates earn more?
Northwest Vista College graduates report a median $42,490 ten years after entry, $2,779 more than the $39,711 at San Antonio 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, San Antonio College or Northwest Vista College?
Northwest Vista College: its completers carry a median $9,400 in federal loans versus $10,500 at San Antonio College, a difference of $1,100. 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 Northwest Vista College, against 26% at San Antonio 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.