Head-to-head comparison
Texas State Technical College vs McLennan Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Waco, TX
Texas State Technical College
- Net price / year
- $13,508
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,916
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Waco, TX
McLennan Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,051
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,163
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but McLennan Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,163 against a $10,102 total, vs $38,916 at Texas State Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Texas State Technical College | McLennan Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,508 | $5,051 |
| Total net cost | $54,032 | $10,102 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,916 | $39,163 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$242,912 | -$194,042 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Texas State Technical College or McLennan Community College?
McLennan Community College, at $5,051 a year after aid versus $13,508 — a gap of $8,457 a year, or $43,930 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 Texas State Technical College or McLennan Community College graduates earn more?
McLennan Community College graduates report a median $39,163 ten years after entry, $247 more than the $38,916 at Texas State Technical 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, Texas State Technical College or McLennan Community College?
Texas State Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,500 at McLennan Community College, a difference of $1,000. 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?
46% of students finish at Texas State Technical College, against 39% at McLennan Community 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.