Del Mar College
Del Mar College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Del Mar College at a Glance
Del Mar College (DMC) is a public community college in Corpus Christi, Texas. Founded in 1935, DMC encompasses three primary campuses and one campus annex.
1935
91 years old
9,725
479
330 acres
Is Del Mar College Worth It?
At a value score of 34/100, Del Mar College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $38,656 — 28% below average — while paying $3,399/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 12% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 1 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 $5,500 is manageable at just 14% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Del Mar College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Del Mar College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #91 of 140 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 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #3 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #4 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #5 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #6 | Shasta College | 89 | $2,878 | $39,269 |
| #91 | Del Mar College | 34 | $3,399 | $38,656 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Del Mar College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 11 in TX.
Best Programs at Del Mar College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Del Mar 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 $3,399/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
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Student Body
- 9,501 students
- Graduation Rate
- 12%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,399
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $38,656
- Median Student Debt
- $5,500