Midland College
Midland College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Midland College at a Glance
Midland College (MC) is a public community college in Midland, Texas. It was established as an independent junior college in 1972 and held its first classes on campus in 1975. Since that time, the campus has expanded to a 704,752-square-foot (65,473.6 m2) main campus on 224 acres (0.91 km2) in Midland. It also has numerous locations in other parts of Midland and in Fort Stockton, the Pecos County seat.
1972
54 years old
7,281
224 acres
Identity
Is Midland College Worth It?
Midland College offers moderate value at $4,512/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $43,958, which is 18% 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 0.4 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.
How Midland College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #62 of 252 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 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #2 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #3 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #4 | Texas A & M International University | 100 | $3,637 | $48,386 |
| #5 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #6 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #62 | Midland College | 48 | $4,512 | $43,958 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Midland College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 20 in TX.
Best Programs at Midland College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Midland 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 $4,512/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
- Midland, TX
- Student Body
- 5,542 students
- Graduation Rate
- 20%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $4,512
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $43,958
- Median Student Debt
- $10,670