Head-to-head comparison
Blinn College District vs Amarillo College: which has better ROI?
Option A Brenham, TX
Blinn College District
- Net price / year
- $10,844
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,318
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Amarillo, TX
Amarillo College
- Net price / year
- $4,600
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,302
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blinn College District comes closer — median earnings $46,318 against a $21,688 total, vs $41,302 at Amarillo College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blinn College District | Amarillo College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,844 | $4,600 |
| Total net cost | $21,688 | $9,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,318 | $41,302 |
| Median debt | $11,500 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$62,528 | -$150,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Blinn College District or Amarillo College?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $10,844 — a gap of $6,244 a year, or $12,488 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 Blinn College District or Amarillo College graduates earn more?
Blinn College District graduates report a median $46,318 ten years after entry, $5,016 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, Blinn College District or Amarillo College?
Blinn College District: its completers carry a median $11,500 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $3,500. 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?
32% of students finish at Amarillo College, against 11% at Blinn College District. 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.