Head-to-head · 2026
El Paso Community College vs South Texas College
Compare average net price ($3,206 at El Paso Community College; $1,751 at South Texas College), ROI score (27.46 vs 52.52), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($35,212 vs $36,788), and admissions context (Open / not reported at El Paso Community College; Open / not reported at South Texas 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 | El Paso Community College | South Texas College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 27.46 | 52.52 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $3,206 | $1,751 ✓ |
| 4-year avg net price | $12,824 | $7,004 ✓ |
| In-state tuition | $4,080 | $4,920 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $6,630 | $7,620 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $35,212 | $36,788 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 24.2% | 27.3% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 62.7% ✓ | 58.5% |
| Median debt | $6,566 | — |
| Enrollment | 24,214 | 15,856 |
| 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 | El Paso Community College | South Texas College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $2,509 | $1,395 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $2,792 | $1,651 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $5,298 | $3,841 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | $7,892 | $5,274 ✓ |
| Family income $110k+ | $9,353 | — |
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 | El Paso Community College | South Texas College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 34.1% | 23.4% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 5.8% | 6.4% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 7.1% | 5% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 5.6% | 5.2% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 4.7% | 5.7% |
| Psychology, General | 5.2% | 2.6% |
| Precision Metal Working | 0.9% | 6.3% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 2.8% | 3.1% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
South Texas College reports the lower average net price by $1,455 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $5,820 difference over four years ($7,004 vs $12,824).
South Texas College reports $1,576 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($36,788 vs $35,212). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 62.7% at El Paso Community College and 58.5% at South Texas College. Debt data is incomplete for at least one school, so it is not used as a deciding signal here.
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
El Paso Community College vs South Texas College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
South Texas College is cheaper — average net price $1,751 per year vs $3,206 at El Paso Community College. The annual difference of $1,455 adds up to about $5,820 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
South Texas College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $36,788 vs $35,212 at El Paso Community College. The gap in the federal data is $1,576. 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.