San Antonio College
San Antonio College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
San Antonio College at a Glance
San Antonio College (SAC) is a public community college in San Antonio, Texas. It is part of the Alamo Colleges District and the oldest public two-year college in Texas. The college has an average semester enrollment of 22,028 credit students and an average annual enrollment of 16,000 other-than-credit students. San Antonio College is the largest single-campus community college in Texas and one of the largest in the United States.
1925
101 years old
17,457
Identity
Is San Antonio College Worth It?
San Antonio College offers moderate value at $4,585/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $39,711, which is 26% 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 0.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 24% 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 San Antonio College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #34 of 104 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 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #2 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #3 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #4 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #5 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #6 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #34 | San Antonio College | 52 | $4,585 | $39,711 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of San Antonio College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 11 in TX.
Best Programs at San Antonio College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for San Antonio 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 $4,585/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
- San Antonio, TX
- Student Body
- 16,416 students
- Graduation Rate
- 24%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $4,585
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $39,711
- Median Student Debt
- $10,500