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Houston City College

Public Houston, TX · Urban · Southwest · 80% data
A Value A Diversity A Affordability
Graduation Rate
17% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$39,254 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$5,737 A
67% less than the typical college
Enrollment
40,503
Earnings -4% vs avg
Graduation -71% vs avg
Net Price +-67% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 45.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $45.7 over 20 years.

45.7× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $45.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,026,145.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Graduation of 17% — 71% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $45.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Houston City College

Houston City College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

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
40,503
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose Houston City College

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
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 36% overall
C
Earnings
$39,254 median
A
Value
6.8× net price
A
Affordability
$5,737/yr net
F
Graduation
17% graduate
A
Diversity
0.76 index

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

How we grade →
1
Can I Get In?

Admissions

Open / non-selective

This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.

Check your odds →
2
Can I Afford It?

Net price + aid

A
$5,737/yr net

Students pay about $5,737 a year after grants and scholarships — 67% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.

See cost & aid →
3
What Happens After?

Earnings + debt

C
$39,254 median

Graduates earn a median of $39,254 ten years after enrolling — 4% below the typical college, against $13,921 in median debt.

See outcomes →
4
Does It Change Lives?

Mobility + social capital

Limited data

Mobility and social-capital data are limited for this school — see what's reported below.

See mobility →

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Houston City College 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 Houston City College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Houston, Texas, Houston City College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 17%.

Full-Time Faculty
36%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,308
Student–Faculty Ratio
19:1
Diversity Index
0.76
First-Gen Students
50%

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 Houston City College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Houston City College is $5,460, 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 $5,737. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,722 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,921 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$2,040
Out-of-State
$5,460
Avg Net Price
$5,737
Median Debt
$13,921
Pell Grant Rate
36%
Federal Loan Rate
15%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$5,722
Family Income $30K–$48K
$4,271
Family Income $48K–$75K
$6,534
Family Income $110K+
$10,123

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 Houston City College — 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 Houston City College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Houston City College report median earnings of $39,254, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$31,319
8 Years
$34,776
10 Years
$39,254
Debt-to-Earnings
0.35x
Earning > $25K
53%

Earnings Trajectory

$31,319 6yr $34,776 8yr $39,254 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (330)
8%
100% (330)
8%
100% (330)
8%
100% (330)
8%

How Houston Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation17%Earnings 10yr$39KNet Price$6KMedian Debt$14KPell Grant Rate36%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$6K$0-30K$4K$30-48K$7K$48-75K$10K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Houston City College Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Houston City College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,737/year ($22,948 total). Graduates earn $39,254 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,049,093 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,026,145 (45.7× your investment). The median debt is $13,921, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 17% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$22,948
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,049,093
Net Return
$1,026,145
ROI Multiple
45.7×
Cost Per Year
$5,737
Median Debt
$13,921
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
17%
Explore all Houston City ROI scenarios

Does It Change Lives?

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

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$1,066,597

Top Programs

The fields Houston City College 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.

Top Careers

Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Houston City College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Houston City College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Houston, Texas, Houston City College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 17%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Houston City College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Houston City College is $5,460, 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 $5,737. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,722 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,921 in federal student loans.

Is Houston City College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Houston City College report median earnings of $39,254, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Houston City College.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

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