Head-to-head comparison
Amarillo College vs Nelson University: which has better ROI?
Option A Amarillo, TX
Amarillo College
- Net price / year
- $4,600
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,302
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Waxahachie, TX
Nelson University
- Net price / year
- $21,662
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,238
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Nelson University comes closer — median earnings $46,238 against a $86,648 total, vs $41,302 at Amarillo College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Amarillo College | Nelson University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,600 | $21,662 |
| Total net cost | $9,200 | $86,648 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,302 | $46,238 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $24,725 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,360 | -$129,088 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or Nelson University?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $21,662 — a gap of $17,062 a year, or $77,448 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Amarillo College or Nelson University graduates earn more?
Nelson University graduates report a median $46,238 ten years after entry, $4,936 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Amarillo College or Nelson University?
Amarillo College: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $24,725 at Nelson University, a difference of $9,725. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Nelson University, against 32% at Amarillo 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.