Odessa College
Odessa College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Odessa College at a Glance
Odessa College is a public junior college in Odessa, Texas. The college serves the people of Ector County and the Permian Basin. It was established in 1946 and enrolled 8,024 students in fall 2021 and 7,679 students in spring 2022 in its university-parallel and occupational/technical courses, and 11,000 students annually in its Basic Education, Continuing Education, and Community Recreation courses.
1946
80 years old
7,995
80 acres
Identity
Is Odessa College Worth It?
Odessa College offers moderate value at $6,368/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $42,026, which is 22% 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 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 32% 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.
Median student debt of $7,750 is manageable at just 18% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
How Odessa College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #42 of 222 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 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #2 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #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 |
| #42 | Odessa College | 53 | $6,368 | $42,026 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Odessa College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 15 in TX.
Best Programs at Odessa College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Odessa 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 $6,368/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
- Odessa, TX
- Student Body
- 4,654 students
- Graduation Rate
- 32%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,368
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $42,026
- Median Student Debt
- $7,750