Lone Star College System
Lone Star College System — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Is Lone Star College System Worth It?
At a value score of 19/100, Lone Star College System is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $42,466 — 21% below average — while paying $11,252/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 20% 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.
Median student debt of $8,600 is manageable at just 20% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Lone Star College System has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Lone Star College System compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #26 of 26 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 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 100 | $4,831 | $49,620 |
| #6 | Florida State College at Jacksonville | 89 | $4,128 | $42,244 |
| #26 | Lone Star College System | 19 | $11,252 | $42,466 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Lone Star College System's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 7 in TX.
Best Programs at Lone Star College System
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Lone Star College System. 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 $11,252/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
- The Woodlands, TX
- Student Body
- 45,188 students
- Graduation Rate
- 20%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $11,252
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $42,466
- Median Student Debt
- $8,600