Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Odessa College

Open-data reference.

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

Your School

Odessa College

Odessa, Texas · Public

$6,368
Net Price
$42,026
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
32.2%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Odessa College

Odessa College posts an average net price of $6,368 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 Odessa 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 $6,336, 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 Odessa College’s $42,026, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $50,714.

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
$6,336
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
55%
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. CUNY York College $57k 2. Oakton College $48k 3. Middlesex College $47k 4. University of Florida-Online $72k 5. Ohio University-Lancaster Ca $53k Compared to Odessa College: $42k.

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
CUNY York College
Jamaica, NY · Public Better Value
$4,456 -$1,912 $56,945 31.3% 55%
Oakton College
Des Plaines, IL · Public Better Value
$5,183 -$1,185 $47,852 34.0% 53%
Middlesex College
Edison, NJ · Public Better Value
$2,288 -$4,080 $46,861 34.0% 49%
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · Public Better Value
$4,815 -$1,553 $71,588 81.2% 47%
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
Lancaster, OH · Public Better Value
$5,650 -$718 $52,581 14.1% 47%
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Zanesville, OH · Public Better Value
$5,746 -$622 $52,581 19.7% 47%
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Chillicothe, OH · Public Better Value
$5,755 -$613 $52,581 13.2% 47%
CUNY Medgar Evers College
Brooklyn, NY · Public Better Value
$5,718 -$650 $46,498 21.0% 47%
Elgin Community College
Elgin, IL · Public Better Value
$6,026 -$342 $45,516 41.1% 47%
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, CA · Public Better Value
$6,331 -$37 $47,224 35.5% 46%
Purdue University Northwest
Hammond, IN · Public Better Value
$6,079 -$289 $48,318 43.5% 45%
Canada College
Redwood City, CA · Public Better Value
$32 -$6,336 $50,087 48.0% 44%
Brazosport College
Lake Jackson, TX · Public Better Value
$4,732 -$1,636 $45,910 46.8% 44%
Technical College of the Rockies
Delta, CO · Public Better Value
$3,796 -$2,572 $45,516 95.7% 43%
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, MA · Public Better Value
$2,624 -$3,744 $50,651 23.1% 42%

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 Odessa 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 Odessa College?
We found 15 schools similar to Odessa College that cost less. The closest match is CUNY York College with 55% similarity and a net price of $4,456.
What is the ROI of attending Odessa College?
Odessa College has an average net price of $6,368. Former students earn a median of $42,026 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 6.6x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Odessa College for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. CUNY York College costs $4,456 (saving $1,912) with median earnings of $56,945.
What is the cheapest alternative to Odessa College?
The most affordable similar school is Canada College at $32, saving $6,336 compared to Odessa College. It has a 44% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $50,714 compared to Odessa College's $42,026. 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.