Dallas College
Dallas College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Dallas College at a Glance
Dallas College is a public community college with seven campuses in Dallas County, Texas. It serves more than 70,000 students annually in degree-granting, continuing education, and adult education programs.
1965
61 years old
64,156
885
Identity
Is Dallas College Worth It?
Dallas College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $3,214/year net price and $41,714 median earnings, graduates earn 13.0× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 34% 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.
Bottom line: Dallas College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Dallas College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #1 of 27 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 | Dallas College | 100 | $3,214 | $41,714 |
| #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 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 100 | $4,831 | $49,620 |
| #6 | Florida State College at Jacksonville | 89 | $4,128 | $42,244 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Dallas College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 7 in TX.
Best Programs at Dallas College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Dallas College. 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 $3,214/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
- Dallas, TX
- Student Body
- 43,869 students
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,214
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $41,714
- Median Student Debt
- $9,500