At $6,185/yr net price, McLennan Community College graduates earn $39,163/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $5,163/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $6,185 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $24,740 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $39,163/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$5,163/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 35.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $10,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,099/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,217/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,883/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,757/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $56,738 | $14,152 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $40,089 | $12,780 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Certificate | $39,729 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $38,289 | $11,250 |
| Fire Protection. | Certificate | $35,416 | |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $33,993 | $13,255 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Associate | $33,281 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate | $31,133 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $30,323 | $9,250 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Associate | $29,685 |
The Risk Factor
35.3% of students at McLennan Community College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
McLennan Community College gives you a low-cost path with a modest financial payoff, and the gap between programs is the whole story. Your total median debt sits around one year of median earnings, which keeps repayment manageable even when salaries stay flat. But median earnings a decade out land below what many two-year graduates earn, so the degree alone doesn't guarantee a strong return.
Nursing is the clear winner here. The associate in Registered Nursing pays roughly $17,000 a year more than the Allied Health Medical Assisting associate, and that gap holds year after year. The extra debt for nursing, about $3,000 more than medical assisting, pays for itself fast. The Allied Health and Fire Protection tracks all cluster in the high-$30,000s, which is close to the school-wide median. If you enroll in one of those, you're earning what the average McLennan graduate earns, not more.
The real risk is the 35% graduation rate. Two out of three students who start don't finish, and if you borrow and leave without a credential, you carry debt with no earnings bump to cover it. That risk hits hardest in the lower-paying programs where the salary payoff is already thin.
The net price tiers work backwards from what you'd expect. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay the least, around $6,100. But the $30,000-$48,000 and $48,000-$75,000 brackets pay more than the poorest families, and the $75,000-$110,000 bracket pays over $12,700. Middle-income families get less aid cushioning here, so budget for the higher number.
Come here for nursing and finish the degree, and the math works. Enroll in a lower-paying allied health or fire track, and treat it as a cheap credential, not a big earnings jump.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is McLennan Community College worth the cost?
McLennan Community College offers decent value with low tuition at $6,185 per year and manageable debt of $10,500. However, the 35% graduation rate means many students don't complete their programs, which hurts overall return on investment.
What are the highest paying programs at McLennan Community College?
Nursing programs at McLennan lead earnings at $56,738 annually, making them the clear winners for ROI. Allied health programs also perform well, earning $38,000-$40,000, while fire protection graduates earn about $35,416.
How much debt do McLennan Community College graduates have?
McLennan graduates carry a median debt of $10,500, which is relatively low for college debt. This manageable debt load helps improve the overall financial picture even with modest post-graduation earnings.
Do McLennan Community College graduates make good money?
Average earnings of $39,163 ten years after attending McLennan are modest but reasonable for a community college. Your earning potential depends heavily on your program choice, with nursing and healthcare fields significantly outperforming the average.