Head-to-head comparison
Amarillo College vs North Central Texas College: 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 Gainesville, TX
North Central Texas College
- Net price / year
- $6,587
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,809
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Central Texas College comes closer — median earnings $45,809 against a $13,174 total, vs $41,302 at Amarillo College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Amarillo College | North Central Texas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,600 | $6,587 |
| Total net cost | $9,200 | $13,174 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,302 | $45,809 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $11,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,360 | -$64,194 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or North Central Texas College?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $6,587 — a gap of $1,987 a year, or $3,974 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 North Central Texas College graduates earn more?
North Central Texas College graduates report a median $45,809 ten years after entry, $4,507 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 North Central Texas College?
North Central Texas College: its completers carry a median $11,250 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $3,750. 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?
35% of students finish at North Central Texas College, 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.