Houston City College
Houston City College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Houston City College at a Glance
Houston City College (HCC), also known as the Houston City College System (HCCS), is a public community college system that operates community colleges in Houston, Missouri City, Greater Katy, and Stafford in the U.S. state of Texas. Founded in 1971 as Houston Community College, it is notable for actively recruiting internationally and for the large number of international students enrolled, over 5,700 in 2015. Its open enrollment policies, which do not require proficiency in English, are backed…
1971
55 years old
52,000
2,535
Identity
Is Houston City College Worth It?
At a value score of 29/100, Houston City College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $39,254 — 27% below average — while paying $5,737/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 17% 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 Houston City College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Houston City College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #18 of 25 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 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #2 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #3 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #4 | Dallas College | 100 | $3,214 | $41,714 |
| #5 | Florida State College at Jacksonville | 89 | $4,128 | $42,244 |
| #6 | Hillsborough College | 89 | $3,861 | $40,782 |
| #18 | Houston City College | 29 | $5,737 | $39,254 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Houston City College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in TX.
Best Programs at Houston City College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Houston City 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 $5,737/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
- Houston, TX
- Student Body
- 40,503 students
- Graduation Rate
- 17%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $5,737
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $39,254
- Median Student Debt
- $13,921