Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Southwest College for the Deaf

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Southwest College for the Deaf that cost less. 8 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Southwest College for the Deaf

Big Spring, Texas · Public

$2,458
Net Price
$38,382
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
42.2%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Southwest College for the Deaf

Southwest College for the Deaf posts an average net price of $2,458 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 Southwest College for the Deaf 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 $2,390, achieved by New Mexico State University-Grants at $68. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 8 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Southwest College for the Deaf’s $38,382, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $38,666.

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
$2,390
Max Savings
8
Better Value Options
67%
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. Spartanburg Community Colleg $37k 2. Macomb Community College $42k 3. Wood County Technical Center $41k 4. Wayne Community College $34k 5. San Joaquin Delta College $43k Compared to Southwest College for the Deaf: $38k.

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
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg, SC · Public
$2,405 -$53 $37,097 28.9% 67%
Macomb Community College
Warren, MI · Public Better Value
$1,618 -$840 $41,596 17.0% 61%
Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing
Parkersburg, WV · Public Better Value
$2,248 -$210 $40,547 N/A 59%
Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, NC · Public
$2,245 -$213 $34,148 53.0% 58%
San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton, CA · Public Better Value
$2,407 -$51 $43,212 33.4% 57%
Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby, IL · Public Better Value
$2,232 -$226 $40,810 43.3% 56%
College of the Sequoias
Visalia, CA · Public Better Value
$480 -$1,978 $39,092 35.7% 55%
Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC · Public
$1,664 -$794 $36,142 39.8% 55%
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA · Public
$1,947 -$511 $36,119 45.4% 54%
Bridgerland Technical College
Logan, UT · Public
$2,338 -$120 $38,347 70.3% 53%
Trident Technical College
Charleston, SC · Public
$1,406 -$1,052 $38,253 29.2% 53%
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College
Ruidoso, NM · Public Better Value
$2,042 -$416 $38,550 21.6% 52%
Manatee Technical College
Bradenton, FL · Public
$1,808 -$650 $38,129 71.7% 52%
New Mexico State University-Grants
Grants, NM · Public Better Value
$68 -$2,390 $39,067 25.3% 51%
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL · Public Better Value
$2,254 -$204 $38,877 55.9% 51%

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 Southwest College for the Deaf 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 Southwest College for the Deaf?
We found 15 schools similar to Southwest College for the Deaf that cost less. The closest match is Spartanburg Community College with 67% similarity and a net price of $2,405.
What is the ROI of attending Southwest College for the Deaf?
Southwest College for the Deaf has an average net price of $2,458. Former students earn a median of $38,382 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 15.6x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Southwest College for the Deaf for less money?
Yes - 8 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Macomb Community College costs $1,618 (saving $840) with median earnings of $41,596.
What is the cheapest alternative to Southwest College for the Deaf?
The most affordable similar school is New Mexico State University-Grants at $68, saving $2,390 compared to Southwest College for the Deaf. It has a 51% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $38,666 compared to Southwest College for the Deaf's $38,382. 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.