South Texas 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 $36,788 at South Texas College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Texas College | Amarillo College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,751 | $4,600 |
| Total net cost | $3,502 | $9,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,788 | $41,302 |
| Median debt | — | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$234,942 | -$150,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South Texas College or Amarillo College?
South Texas College, at $1,751 a year after aid versus $4,600 — a gap of $2,849 a year, or $5,698 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do South Texas College or Amarillo College graduates earn more?
Amarillo College graduates report a median $41,302 ten years after entry, $4,514 more than the $36,788 at South Texas 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 graduates more of its students?
32% of students finish at Amarillo College, against 27% at South Texas 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.