Tarrant County College District vs Alvin Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alvin Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,762 against a $17,050 total, vs $42,727 at Tarrant County College District. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tarrant County College District | Alvin Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,337 | $8,525 |
| Total net cost | $8,674 | $17,050 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,727 | $45,762 |
| Median debt | $9,104 | $4,519 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$121,334 | -$69,010 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Tarrant County College District or Alvin Community College?
Tarrant County College District, at $4,337 a year after aid versus $8,525 — a gap of $4,188 a year, or $8,376 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Tarrant County College District or Alvin Community College graduates earn more?
Alvin Community College graduates report a median $45,762 ten years after entry, $3,035 more than the $42,727 at Tarrant County College District. 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, Tarrant County College District or Alvin Community College?
Alvin Community College: its completers carry a median $4,519 in federal loans versus $9,104 at Tarrant County College District, a difference of $4,585. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
34% of students finish at Tarrant County College District, against 24% at Alvin 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.