Head-to-head · 2026
College of the Mainland vs Texas Southmost College
Compare average net price ($1,342 at College of the Mainland; $3,085 at Texas Southmost College), ROI score (73.84 vs 33.95), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($39,639 vs $41,900), and admissions context (Open / not reported at College of the Mainland; Open / not reported at Texas Southmost College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | College of the Mainland | Texas Southmost College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 73.84 ✓ | 33.95 |
| Avg net price | $1,342 ✓ | $3,085 |
| 4-year avg net price | $5,368 ✓ | $12,340 |
| In-state tuition | $2,310 | $3,148 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $4,140 | $4,948 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $39,639 | $41,900 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 31.2% ✓ | 29.8% |
| Retention rate | — | 67.8% |
| Median debt | $5,960 ✓ | $9,000 |
| Enrollment | 3,368 | 3,372 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | College of the Mainland | Texas Southmost College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $1,352 ✓ | $1,696 |
| Family income $30–48k | $200 ✓ | $3,295 |
| Family income $48–75k | — | $6,051 |
| Family income $75–110k | — | $10,002 |
| Family income $110k+ | — | $10,999 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | College of the Mainland | Texas Southmost College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 38.4% | 47.4% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 3% | 13.9% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 9.2% | 1.7% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 1.7% | 6.8% |
| Business/Commerce, General | 2.4% | 4.7% |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 3.7% | 1.1% |
| Natural Sciences | 1.8% | 1.5% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 0.3% | 2.2% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
College of the Mainland reports the lower average net price by $1,743 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $6,972 difference over four years ($5,368 vs $12,340).
Texas Southmost College reports $2,261 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($41,900 vs $39,639). This is not earnings for a specific major.
Retention data is incomplete for at least one school. Compare the available graduation, debt, price and admissions context without treating a missing field as an advantage.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
College of the Mainland vs Texas Southmost College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
College of the Mainland is cheaper — average net price $1,342 per year vs $3,085 at Texas Southmost College. The annual difference of $1,743 adds up to about $6,972 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Texas Southmost College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $41,900 vs $39,639 at College of the Mainland. The gap in the federal data is $2,261. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.