San Jacinto Community College vs Amarillo College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but San Jacinto Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,062 against a $24,286 total, vs $41,302 at Amarillo College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Jacinto Community College | Amarillo College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,143 | $4,600 |
| Total net cost | $24,286 | $9,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,062 | $41,302 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$130,246 | -$150,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, San Jacinto Community College or Amarillo College?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $12,143 — a gap of $7,543 a year, or $15,086 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 Jacinto Community College or Amarillo College graduates earn more?
San Jacinto Community College graduates report a median $43,062 ten years after entry, $1,760 more than the $41,302 at Amarillo 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 Jacinto Community College or Amarillo College?
San Jacinto Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $5,500. 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 30% at San Jacinto Community 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.