Head-to-head comparison
Amarillo College vs South University-Austin: 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 Round Rock, TX
South University-Austin
- Net price / year
- $25,680
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,421
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Amarillo College comes closer — median earnings $41,302 against a $9,200 total, vs $34,421 at South University-Austin. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Amarillo College | South University-Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,600 | $25,680 |
| Total net cost | $9,200 | $102,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,302 | $34,421 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $26,123 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,360 | -$381,500 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or South University-Austin?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $25,680 — a gap of $21,080 a year, or $93,520 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 South University-Austin graduates earn more?
Amarillo College graduates report a median $41,302 ten years after entry, $6,881 more than the $34,421 at South University-Austin. 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 South University-Austin?
Amarillo College: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $26,123 at South University-Austin, a difference of $11,123. 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?
32% of students finish at Amarillo College, against 0% at South University-Austin. 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.