Head-to-head · 2026
El Paso Community College vs Wharton County Junior College
Compare average net price ($3,206 at El Paso Community College; $4,666 at Wharton County Junior College), ROI score (27.46 vs 24.09), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($35,212 vs $44,960), and admissions context (Open / not reported at El Paso Community College; Open / not reported at Wharton County Junior 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 | Wharton County Junior College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 27.46 ✓ | 24.09 |
| Avg net price | $3,206 ✓ | $4,666 |
| 4-year avg net price | $12,824 ✓ | $18,664 |
| In-state tuition | $4,080 | $3,192 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $6,630 | $5,904 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $35,212 | $44,960 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 24.2% | 27.3% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 62.7% | 71.4% ✓ |
| Median debt | $6,566 ✓ | $7,703 |
| Enrollment | 24,214 | 4,585 |
| 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 | Wharton County Junior College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $2,509 | $1,779 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $2,792 | $2,267 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $5,298 | $5,236 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | $7,892 ✓ | $9,365 |
| Family income $110k+ | $9,353 ✓ | $10,787 |
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 | Wharton County Junior College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 34.1% | 22.1% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 2.8% | 12.9% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 5.8% | 1.5% |
| Psychology, General | 5.2% | 1.3% |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | 0.8% | 4.4% |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | 0.8% | 4.3% |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 1.8% | 2.8% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
El Paso Community College reports the lower average net price by $1,460 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $5,840 difference over four years ($12,824 vs $18,664).
Wharton County Junior College reports $9,748 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($44,960 vs $35,212). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 62.7% at El Paso Community College and 71.4% at Wharton County Junior College. Median federal debt among completers is $6,566 vs $7,703, respectively.
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 Wharton County Junior College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
El Paso Community College is cheaper — average net price $3,206 per year vs $4,666 at Wharton County Junior College. The annual difference of $1,460 adds up to about $5,840 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Wharton County Junior College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $44,960 vs $35,212 at El Paso Community College. The gap in the federal data is $9,748. 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.