Laredo College
Laredo College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Laredo College at a Glance
Laredo College (LC) is a public community college in Laredo, Texas. Founded as Laredo Junior College in 1947, it is part of the Laredo Independent School District. As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of LC includes the municipality of Laredo and all of Webb, Jim Hogg and Zapata counties.
1947
79 years old
8,749
210
300 acres
Identity
Is Laredo College Worth It?
Laredo College offers moderate value at $5,798/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $33,934, which is 37% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 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.
How Laredo College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #24 of 83 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 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #2 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #3 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #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 |
| #24 | Laredo College | 45 | $5,798 | $33,934 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Laredo College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 9 in TX.
Best Programs at Laredo College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Laredo 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 $5,798/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
- Laredo, TX
- Student Body
- 5,818 students
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $5,798
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $33,934