Head-to-head comparison
Palo Alto College vs Amarillo College: which has better ROI?
Option A San Antonio, TX
Palo Alto College
- Net price / year
- $4,463
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,448
- 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 Amarillo College comes closer — median earnings $41,302 against a $9,200 total, vs $37,448 at Palo Alto College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Palo Alto College | Amarillo College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,463 | $4,600 |
| Total net cost | $8,926 | $9,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,448 | $41,302 |
| Median debt | $13,393 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$227,166 | -$150,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Palo Alto College or Amarillo College?
Palo Alto College, at $4,463 a year after aid versus $4,600 — a gap of $137 a year, or $274 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 Palo Alto College or Amarillo College graduates earn more?
Amarillo College graduates report a median $41,302 ten years after entry, $3,854 more than the $37,448 at Palo Alto 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, Palo Alto College or Amarillo College?
Palo Alto College: its completers carry a median $13,393 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $1,607. 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?
33% of students finish at Palo Alto College, 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.