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Austin Community College District

Public Austin, TX · Urban · Southwest · 80% data
A Value A- Affordability B Diversity
Graduation Rate
19% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$43,177 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$6,390 A-
63% less than the typical college
Enrollment
30,189
Earnings +6% vs avg
Graduation -67% vs avg
Net Price +-63% vs avg
Mobility Top 48%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 38.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $38.4 over 20 years.

38.4× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $38.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $955,082.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduation of 19% — 67% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $38.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Austin Community College District Matters

Austin Community College District is a public community college in Austin, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Community College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
30,189
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, Health Professions

Why students choose Austin Community College District

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 39% overall
C+
Earnings
$43,177 median
A
Value
6.8× net price
A-
Affordability
$6,390/yr net
F
Graduation
19% graduate
C
Social Mobility
1.5% climb Q1→Q5
B
Diversity
0.68 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With nearly 30,200 students, Austin Community College District is a vibrant hub for those looking to jumpstart their education without breaking the bank. It's an excellent fit for individuals seeking practical skills in fields like Humanities, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, and Visual & Performing Arts. The diverse range of programs means there's something for everyone, whether you're looking to earn a degree or simply enhance your skills.

After graduation, students tend to earn around $43,177 within ten years, which is a decent starting point for many. While the graduation rate stands at 19%, those who do complete their programs report positive outcomes. Affordability is key here; with a net price of just $6,390 after financial aid, many students can focus on their studies without the heavy burden of debt. This financial accessibility helps to create pathways for students to advance in their careers.

When it comes to the bottom line, many students graduate with a median debt of $10,499, which is manageable compared to the earnings they can achieve. With 24% of students receiving Pell Grants, the school supports those from lower-income backgrounds, making it an inclusive environment for all. Those who thrive here are often motivated individuals looking for a solid foundation in their chosen field, ready to take advantage of the opportunities that Austin has to offer.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Austin Community College District is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Austin Community College District? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Austin, Texas, Austin Community College District enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 19%.

Full-Time Faculty
40%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,962
Student–Faculty Ratio
18:1
Diversity Index
0.68
First-Gen Students
45%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Austin Community College District? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Austin Community College District is $10,590, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,390. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,789 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,499 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$2,550
Out-of-State
$10,590
Avg Net Price
$6,390
Median Debt
$10,499
Pell Grant Rate
24%
Federal Loan Rate
13%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$3,789
Family Income $30K–$48K
$4,388
Family Income $48K–$75K
$7,759
Family Income $110K+
$14,889

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Austin Community College District — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Austin Community College District Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Austin Community College District report median earnings of $43,177, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$38,647
8 Years
$39,997
10 Years
$43,177
Debt-to-Earnings
0.24x
Earning > $25K
57%

Earnings Trajectory

$38,647 6yr $39,997 8yr $43,177 10yr

How Austin Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation19%Earnings 10yr$43KNet Price$6KMedian Debt$10KPell Grant Rate24%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$4K$0-30K$4K$30-48K$8K$48-75K$15K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%10.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%14.1%MOBILITY1.51%

College ROI Calculator

Is Austin Community College District Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Austin Community College District delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,390/year ($25,560 total). Graduates earn $43,177 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $980,642 in total earnings — a net gain of $955,082 (38.4× your investment). The median debt is $10,499, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 19% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$25,560
Projected 20yr Earnings
$980,642
Net Return
$955,082
ROI Multiple
38.4×
Cost Per Year
$6,390
Median Debt
$10,499
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
19%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Austin Community College District Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Austin Community College District is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.51%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.51%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
14.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
10.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$104,752
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Austin Community College District? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Austin Community College District. Its economic connectedness score is 1.17, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.17
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.06
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.8%
Support Ratio
0.92
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$1,292,766

Top Programs

The fields Austin Community College District awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Austin Community College District? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Austin, Texas, Austin Community College District enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 19%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Austin Community College District? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Austin Community College District is $10,590, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,390. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,789 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,499 in federal student loans.

Is Austin Community College District Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Austin Community College District report median earnings of $43,177, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Austin Community College District Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Austin Community College District is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.51%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Austin Community College District? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Austin Community College District. Its economic connectedness score is 1.17, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Austin Community College District.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys