Vernon College
- Graduation Rate
- 20% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,464 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $6,404 A-
- 63% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,113
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 37.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $37.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $37.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $940,411.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 20% — 66% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.24% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $37.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Vernon College Matters
Vernon College is a public community college in Vernon, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. 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
- 2,113
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Precision Production, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose Vernon College
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 $6,404 a year after grants and scholarships — 63% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,464 ten years after enrolling — 1% below the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 22% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.00 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 2,113 students, Vernon College serves as a practical choice for those interested in fields like Health Professions, Humanities, Culinary & Personal Services, Precision Production, and Education. This college offers a more intimate learning environment, which can be appealing to students who thrive in smaller settings and are looking for hands-on training in their chosen fields. The low student-to-faculty ratio means more personalized attention, which can help students grasp complex concepts and develop skills relevant to their careers.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $40,464 within ten years. This figure suggests a solid return on investment for those who complete their programs. While the graduation rate sits at 20%, it's important to recognize that many students may be pursuing part-time studies or juggling work and family commitments. Affordability also plays a role; with a net price of $6,404, the financial burden is manageable, especially for those receiving Pell Grants, which 42% of students do.
When it comes to the financial bottom line, students graduate with a median debt of $11,000. This relatively low debt load can make a significant difference in post-college life, allowing graduates to focus on building their careers rather than being weighed down by excessive loans. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who are self-motivated and focused on practical skills that lead directly to employment opportunities.
Rankings
- #15 Best Nursing Colleges in Texas
- #25 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas
- #26 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas
- #31 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Texas
- #31 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Texas
- #32 Best Online Nursing Programs in Texas
- #32 Best Online Education Programs in Texas
Can I Get In?
How selective Vernon College 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 Vernon College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Vernon, Texas, Vernon College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 20%.
- Retention Rate
- 41%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,784
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.64
- 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 Vernon College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Vernon College is $6,120, 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 $6,404. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,244 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,720
- Out-of-State
- $6,120
- Avg Net Price
- $6,404
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 42%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 30%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,244
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,501
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,337
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,712
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 Vernon College — 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 Vernon College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Vernon College report median earnings of $40,464, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $34,881
- 8 Years
- $37,265
- 10 Years
- $40,464
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (34)
- 12%
- 100% (34)
- 12%
- 100% (34)
- 12%
- 100% (34)
- 12%
How Vernon 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 Vernon College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Vernon College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,404/year ($25,616 total). Graduates earn $40,464 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $966,027 in total earnings — a net gain of $940,411 (37.7× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 20% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $25,616
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $966,027
- Net Return
- $940,411
- ROI Multiple
- 37.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,404
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 20%
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 Vernon College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Vernon College 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 2.24%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.9% 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 13.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.24%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 16.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $72,144
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $5,177,598
- Federal Grants
- $6,118,587
- Investment Income
- $245,770
Top Programs
The fields Vernon 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.
- Health Professions 40% $69,178 early-career
- Humanities 29%
- Precision Production 7% $35,271 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 6% $18,165 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Construction Trades 3%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Education 1%
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 Vernon College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- 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
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
- C+Blockchain Developer$130,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
- B-DevOps Engineer$128,000 · 22% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Vernon College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Vernon, Texas, Vernon College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 20%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Vernon College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Vernon College is $6,120, 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 $6,404. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,244 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is Vernon College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Vernon College report median earnings of $40,464, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Vernon College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Vernon College 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 2.24%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.9% 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 13.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Vernon College? 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 Vernon College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.00, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Vernon College.
- Hill CollegeHillsboro, TX · Close peer30% grad $39,572 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Mid Michigan CollegeHarrison, MI · Close peer23% grad $37,319 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Aiken Technical CollegeGraniteville, SC · Close peer26% grad $39,225 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Howard CollegeBig Spring, TX · Close peer35% grad $38,382 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Honolulu Community CollegeHonolulu, HI · Close peer30% grad $45,105 earnWhy: similar size
- Morton CollegeCicero, IL · Close peer30% grad $42,406 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Vernon College? 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 Vernon College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.00, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note