College of the Mainland
College of the Mainland — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
College of the Mainland at a Glance
College of the Mainland (COM) is a public community college in Texas City, Texas. Its name comes from its location on the "mainland" portion of Galveston County, Texas.
1966
60 years old
4,335
Identity
Is College of the Mainland Worth It?
College of the Mainland is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $1,342/year net price and $39,639 median earnings, graduates earn 29.5× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 30% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $5,960 is manageable at just 15% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: College of the Mainland delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How College of the Mainland compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #1 of 188 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 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #2 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #3 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #4 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #5 | West Virginia University at Parkersburg | 97 | $1,807 | $35,171 |
| #6 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of College of the Mainland's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 9 in TX.
Best Programs at College of the Mainland
Program-level earnings data isn't available for College of the Mainland. 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 $1,342/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
- Texas City, TX
- Student Body
- 3,368 students
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $1,342
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $39,639
- Median Student Debt
- $5,960