Austin Community College District
Austin Community College District — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Austin Community College District at a Glance
The Austin Community College District (ACC) is a public community college system serving the Austin, Texas, metropolitan area and surrounding Central Texas communities. The college maintains numerous campuses, centers, and distance learning options to serve about 100,000 students in academic, continuing education and adult education programs.
1973
53 years old
35,011
Identity
Is Austin Community College District Worth It?
At a value score of 32/100, Austin Community College District is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $43,177 — 20% below average — while paying $6,390/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 19% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 2 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Austin Community College District has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Austin Community College District compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #48 of 62 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #2 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #3 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #4 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #5 | Dallas College | 100 | $3,214 | $41,714 |
| #6 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 100 | $4,831 | $49,620 |
| #48 | Austin Community College District | 32 | $6,390 | $43,177 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Austin Community College District's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 13 in TX.
Best Programs at Austin Community College District
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Austin Community College District. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $6,390/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in TX
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Austin, TX
- Student Body
- 30,189 students
- Graduation Rate
- 19%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,390
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $43,177
- Median Student Debt
- $10,499