Tarrant County College District
#9 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas- Graduation Rate
- 29% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,727 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $4,337 A
- 75% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 42,300
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 63.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $63.4 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Most Affordable Colleges in Texas.
Every $1 spent returns $63.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,082,401.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduation of 29% — 49% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $63.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.1%
- Top 99%
- Patents
- 27
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 131
- Downstream influence
Why Tarrant County College District Matters
Tarrant County College District is a public community college in Fort Worth, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average 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
- 42,300
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Computer Science & IT, Health Professions, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Tarrant County College District
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 $4,337 a year after grants and scholarships — 75% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,727 ten years after enrolling — 5% above the typical college, against $9,104 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 41% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.12 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 42,300 students, Tarrant County College District in Fort Worth, Texas, is designed for those seeking a practical and accessible education. It’s particularly appealing for individuals interested in fields like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, and Mechanic & Repair Technology. The focus here is on equipping students with skills that directly translate to the job market.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $42,727 within ten years. This figure indicates a good opportunity for upward mobility, especially considering the affordable nature of the education here. With a net price of just $4,337 after aid, many students can graduate with lower debt burdens, making it an attractive option for those mindful of their financial futures.
The median debt for graduates stands at $9,104, which is manageable compared to the potential earnings. Students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds, and many are looking to upskill or pivot into new careers without the burden of excessive debt. This community-driven college supports those ready to take the next step in their education and career paths, making it a solid choice for pragmatic learners.
Rankings
- #9 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas
- #21 Largest Colleges in America
- #21 Best Computer Science Colleges in Texas
- #21 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Texas
- #21 Best Data Science Colleges in Texas
- #32 Most Affordable Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- #33 Best Online Colleges in Texas
- #34 Best Colleges in Texas
Can I Get In?
How selective Tarrant County College District 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 Tarrant County College District? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Tarrant County College District enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 29%.
- Retention Rate
- 70%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 41%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,399
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 49%
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 Tarrant County College District? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tarrant County College District is $8,370, 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 $4,337. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,334 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,104 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,863
- Out-of-State
- $8,370
- Avg Net Price
- $4,337
- Median Debt
- $9,104
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,334
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,899
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,406
- Family Income $110K+
- $10,749
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 Tarrant County College District — 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 Tarrant County College District Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tarrant County College District report median earnings of $42,727, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $34,945
- 8 Years
- $38,503
- 10 Years
- $42,727
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (369)
- 9%
- 100% (369)
- 9%
- 100% (369)
- 9%
- 100% (369)
- 9%
How Tarrant Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
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 Tarrant County College District Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Tarrant County College District delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,337/year ($17,348 total). Graduates earn $42,727 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,099,749 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,082,401 (63.4× your investment). The median debt is $9,104, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 29% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $17,348
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,099,749
- Net Return
- $1,082,401
- ROI Multiple
- 63.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,337
- Median Debt
- $9,104
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 29%
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 Tarrant County College District Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Tarrant County 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 1.64%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.5% 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 15.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $75,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.64%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 15.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $102,442
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Tarrant County College District produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 27 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.07%
- Top 99% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 27
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 131
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.03%
- Bottom-20% families
Top Programs
The fields Tarrant County 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.
- Humanities 55% $27,463 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 9% $45,128 early-career
- Health Professions 9% $66,211 early-career
- Business & Marketing 8% $56,234 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $68,105 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3% $56,154 early-career
- Education 1% $30,854 early-career
- Precision Production 1% $40,898 early-career
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 Tarrant County College District'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
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Tarrant County College District? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Tarrant County College District enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 29%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Tarrant County College District? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tarrant County College District is $8,370, 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 $4,337. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,334 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,104 in federal student loans.
Is Tarrant County College District Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tarrant County College District report median earnings of $42,727, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Tarrant County College District Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Tarrant County 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 1.64%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.5% 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 15.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $75,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Tarrant County College District? 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 Tarrant County College District. Its economic connectedness score is 1.12, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Tarrant County College District.
- Chaffey CollegeRancho Cucamonga, CA · Close peer34% grad $42,975 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Amarillo CollegeAmarillo, TX · Close peer31% grad $41,302 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Sacramento City CollegeSacramento, CA · Close peer32% grad $42,214 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Fullerton CollegeFullerton, CA · Close peer34% grad $43,366 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- CUNY Queensborough Community CollegeBayside, NY · Close peer23% grad $44,214 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- American River CollegeSacramento, CA · Strong match35% grad $40,162 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Tarrant County College District? 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 Tarrant County College District. Its economic connectedness score is 1.12, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note