Head-to-head comparison
Amarillo College vs Tulsa Welding School-Houston: 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 Houston, TX
Tulsa Welding School-Houston
- Net price / year
- $35,101
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,067
- 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 $41,067 at Tulsa Welding School-Houston. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Amarillo College | Tulsa Welding School-Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,600 | $35,101 |
| Total net cost | $9,200 | $140,404 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,302 | $41,067 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,360 | -$286,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or Tulsa Welding School-Houston?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $35,101 — a gap of $30,501 a year, or $131,204 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 Tulsa Welding School-Houston graduates earn more?
Amarillo College graduates report a median $41,302 ten years after entry, $235 more than the $41,067 at Tulsa Welding School-Houston. 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 Tulsa Welding School-Houston?
Tulsa Welding School-Houston: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $5,500. 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?
70% of students finish at Tulsa Welding School-Houston, 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.