Head-to-head comparison
Collin County Community College District vs Universal Technical Institute-West Texas: which has better ROI?
Option A McKinney, TX
Collin County Community College District
- Net price / year
- $8,969
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,701
- Payback
- 52.6 yrs
Option B Austin, TX
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas
- Net price / year
- $26,117
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,222
- Payback
- 36.5 yrs
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $104,468 in 36.5 years versus 52.6 years at Collin County Community College District, on median earnings of $51,222 vs $48,701 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Collin County Community College District | Universal Technical Institute-West Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,969 | $26,117 |
| Total net cost | $17,938 | $104,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,701 | $51,222 |
| Median debt | $7,500 | $14,267 |
| Payback | 52.6 yrs | 36.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$11,118 | -$47,228 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Collin County Community College District or Universal Technical Institute-West Texas?
Collin County Community College District, at $8,969 a year after aid versus $26,117 — a gap of $17,148 a year, or $86,530 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 Collin County Community College District or Universal Technical Institute-West Texas graduates earn more?
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas graduates report a median $51,222 ten years after entry, $2,521 more than the $48,701 at Collin County Community College District. 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, Collin County Community College District or Universal Technical Institute-West Texas?
Collin County Community College District: its completers carry a median $7,500 in federal loans versus $14,267 at Universal Technical Institute-West Texas, a difference of $6,767. 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?
75% of students finish at Universal Technical Institute-West Texas, against 20% at Collin County Community 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.