Head-to-head comparison
Tyler Junior College vs Amarillo College: which has better ROI?
Option A Tyler, TX
Tyler Junior College
- Net price / year
- $10,206
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,140
- 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 $38,140 at Tyler Junior College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tyler Junior College | Amarillo College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,206 | $4,600 |
| Total net cost | $20,412 | $9,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,140 | $41,302 |
| Median debt | $11,995 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$224,812 | -$150,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tyler Junior College or Amarillo College?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $10,206 — a gap of $5,606 a year, or $11,212 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 Tyler Junior College or Amarillo College graduates earn more?
Amarillo College graduates report a median $41,302 ten years after entry, $3,162 more than the $38,140 at Tyler Junior 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, Tyler Junior College or Amarillo College?
Tyler Junior College: its completers carry a median $11,995 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Amarillo College, a difference of $3,005. 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 27% at Tyler Junior 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.