Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Alvin Community College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Alvin Community College that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Alvin Community College

Alvin, Texas · Public

$8,525
Net Price
$45,762
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
24.0%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Alvin Community College

Alvin Community College posts an average net price of $8,525 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Alvin Community College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $8,493, achieved by Canada College at $32. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Alvin Community College’s $45,762, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $52,126.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$8,493
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
61%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Bates Technical College $50k 2. Ohio University-Southern Cam $53k 3. Massachusetts Bay Community $53k 4. Middlesex Community College $51k 5. Suffolk County Community Col $50k Compared to Alvin Community College: $46k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Bates Technical College
Tacoma, WA · Public Better Value
$6,292 -$2,233 $50,051 43.4% 61%
Ohio University-Southern Campus
Ironton, OH · Public Better Value
$5,993 -$2,532 $52,581 20.2% 60%
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Wellesley Hills, MA · Public Better Value
$7,169 -$1,356 $52,654 16.4% 51%
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, MA · Public Better Value
$2,624 -$5,901 $50,651 23.1% 51%
Suffolk County Community College
Selden, NY · Public Better Value
$5,258 -$3,267 $49,907 26.7% 51%
Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, IN · Public Better Value
$3,968 -$4,557 $49,917 45.2% 49%
Texas A&M University-Victoria
Victoria, TX · Public Better Value
$8,109 -$416 $54,467 26.5% 48%
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland, WA · Public Better Value
$6,817 -$1,708 $50,669 38.3% 48%
Montgomery College
Rockville, MD · Public Better Value
$8,027 -$498 $50,159 29.7% 47%
University of Arkansas Grantham
LIttle Rock, AR · Public Better Value
$8,370 -$155 $63,496 31.8% 44%
Renton Technical College
Renton, WA · Public Better Value
$8,296 -$229 $49,782 50.4% 44%
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public Better Value
$3,925 -$4,600 $52,581 20.3% 43%
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Zanesville, OH · Public Better Value
$5,746 -$2,779 $52,581 19.7% 42%
Canada College
Redwood City, CA · Public Better Value
$32 -$8,493 $50,087 48.0% 42%
George T Baker Aviation Technical College
Miami, FL · Public Better Value
$7,489 -$1,036 $52,312 29.4% 41%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Alvin Community College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Alvin Community College?
We found 15 schools similar to Alvin Community College that cost less. The closest match is Bates Technical College with 61% similarity and a net price of $6,292.
What is the ROI of attending Alvin Community College?
Alvin Community College has an average net price of $8,525. Former students earn a median of $45,762 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 5.4x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Alvin Community College for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Bates Technical College costs $6,292 (saving $2,233) with median earnings of $50,051.
What is the cheapest alternative to Alvin Community College?
The most affordable similar school is Canada College at $32, saving $8,493 compared to Alvin Community College. It has a 42% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $52,126 compared to Alvin Community College's $45,762. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.