College of the Mainland
#5 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas- Graduation Rate
- 30% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $39,639 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $1,342 A+
- 92% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,368
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 163.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $163.7 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Most Affordable Colleges in Texas.
Every $1 spent returns $163.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $873,554.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 30% — 48% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.07% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $163.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why College of the Mainland Matters
College of the Mainland is a public community college in Texas City, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
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
- 3,368
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Culinary & Personal Services, Criminal Justice
Why students choose College of the Mainland
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $1,342 a year after grants and scholarships — 92% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $39,639 ten years after enrolling — 3% below the typical college, against $5,960 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 26% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.08 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 3,368 students, College of the Mainland serves as a solid option for those looking for a community-focused education in Texas City, Texas. This school is particularly well-suited for individuals interested in fields such as Humanities, Health Professions, Culinary and Personal Services, Business and Marketing, and Criminal Justice. Students here appreciate a smaller campus atmosphere where they can connect closely with faculty and peers while pursuing practical, career-oriented programs.
After graduation, the median earnings stand at $39,639 a decade later, which gives a sense of the financial landscape for alumni. This figure is significant when considering the overall affordability of the college experience. With a net price of just $1,342 after aid and 27% of students receiving Pell Grants, it positions itself as a viable choice for those mindful of cost. While the graduation rate is 30%, it’s important to note that many students find pathways to success that may not be strictly tied to traditional graduation timelines.
Looking at the financial picture, the median debt for graduates is quite manageable at $5,960, which allows many to start their careers without a heavy burden. This cost structure frequently attracts students who are pragmatic about their education and prioritize affordability. The supportive environment tends to benefit those who thrive in hands-on learning settings and are eager to enter the workforce with practical skills.
Rankings
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas
- #13 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Texas
- #14 Cheapest Online Master's Programs
- #14 Most Affordable Online Master's Programs
- #15 Most Affordable Master's Programs
- #20 Most Affordable Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- #25 Best Master's Programs in Texas
- #25 Best Nursing Colleges in Texas
Can I Get In?
How selective College of the Mainland is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of the Mainland? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Texas City, Texas, College of the Mainland enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 98%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,492
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
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 College of the Mainland? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of the Mainland is $4,140, 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 $1,342. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,352 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,960 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,310
- Out-of-State
- $4,140
- Avg Net Price
- $1,342
- Median Debt
- $5,960
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 3%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,352
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $200
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 College of the Mainland — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is College of the Mainland Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of the Mainland report median earnings of $39,639, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,164
- 8 Years
- $35,969
- 10 Years
- $39,639
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.15x
- Earning > $25K
- 52%
Earnings Trajectory
How College Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is College of the Mainland Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, College of the Mainland delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $1,342/year ($5,368 total). Graduates earn $39,639 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $878,922 in total earnings — a net gain of $873,554 (163.7× your investment). The median debt is $5,960, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $5,368
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $878,922
- Net Return
- $873,554
- ROI Multiple
- 163.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $1,342
- Median Debt
- $5,960
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
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 College of the Mainland Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of the Mainland 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 2.07%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.1% 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 13.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.07%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 15.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $93,339
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,695,380
- Federal Grants
- $9,064,879
- Investment Income
- $323,868
Top Programs
The fields College of the Mainland 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.
- Humanities 27%
- Health Professions 17% $85,988 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 14% $20,670 early-career
- Criminal Justice 9% $47,437 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8%
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- Precision Production 3%
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for College of the Mainland's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of the Mainland? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Texas City, Texas, College of the Mainland enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of the Mainland? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of the Mainland is $4,140, 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 $1,342. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,352 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,960 in federal student loans.
Is College of the Mainland Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of the Mainland report median earnings of $39,639, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does College of the Mainland Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of the Mainland 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 2.07%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.1% 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 13.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is College of the Mainland? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at College of the Mainland. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, 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 College of the Mainland.
- Taft CollegeTaft, CA · Close peer28% grad $38,861 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cochise County Community College DistrictSierra Vista, AZ · Close peer30% grad $38,033 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Grayson CollegeDenison, TX · Close peer27% grad $40,873 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane, WA · Close peer31% grad $38,955 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Yavapai CollegePrescott, AZ · Close peer33% grad $39,890 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusPortales, NM · Close peer42% grad $38,550 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is College of the Mainland? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at College of the Mainland. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, 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.
Research Note