Head-to-head comparison
Amarillo College vs Texas A & M International 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 Laredo, TX
Texas A & M International University
- Net price / year
- $3,637
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,386
- Payback
- 559.5 yrs
Texas A & M International University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $14,548 in 559.5 years versus not at all at Amarillo College, on median earnings of $48,386 vs $41,302 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Amarillo College | Texas A & M International University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,600 | $3,637 |
| Total net cost | $9,200 | $14,548 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,302 | $48,386 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | 559.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$150,360 | -$14,028 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or Texas A & M International University?
Texas A & M International University, at $3,637 a year after aid versus $4,600 — a gap of $963 a year, or $5,348 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 Texas A & M International University graduates earn more?
Texas A & M International University graduates report a median $48,386 ten years after entry, $7,084 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 Texas A & M International University?
Completers at both borrow a median $15,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
46% of students finish at Texas A & M International 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.