2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to West Coast University-Texas

Open-data reference.

We found 12 schools structurally similar to West Coast University-Texas that cost less. 1 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

West Coast University-Texas

Richardson, Texas · Private For-Profit

$25,992
Net Price
$102,672
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to West Coast University-Texas

West Coast University-Texas posts an average net price of $25,992 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 West Coast University-Texas across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 12 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $19,818, achieved by United States Merchant Marine Academy at $6,174. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 1 of the 12 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above West Coast University-Texas’s $102,672, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $93,886.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

12
Alternatives Found
$19,818
Max Savings
1
Better Value Options
67%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

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 Top 5 1. Chamberlain University-India $92k 2. SUNY Maritime College $96k 3. Unitek College $80k 4. Georgia Institute of Technol $103k 5. Columbia University in the C $102k Compared to West Coast University-Texas: $103k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Chamberlain University-Indiana
Indianapolis, IN · Private For-Profit
$16,149 -$9,843 $92,405 N/A 67%
SUNY Maritime College
Throggs Neck, NY · Public
$22,367 -$3,625 $95,951 69.5% 54%
Unitek College
Fremont, CA · Private For-Profit
$25,179 -$813 $79,550 71.0% 53%
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Atlanta, GA · Public Better Value
$12,116 -$13,876 $102,772 93.2% 47%
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private Nonprofit
$21,590 -$4,402 $102,491 95.5% 46%
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private Nonprofit
$19,066 -$6,926 $101,817 97.5% 46%
Yale University
New Haven, CT · Private Nonprofit
$23,777 -$2,215 $100,533 96.0% 44%
California State University Maritime Academy
Vallejo, CA · Public
$20,555 -$5,437 $94,784 63.3% 44%
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · Public
$6,174 -$19,818 $90,610 81.5% 44%
Maine Maritime Academy
Castine, ME · Public
$23,414 -$2,578 $89,964 59.9% 43%
Unitek College
South San Francisco, CA · Private For-Profit
$23,676 -$2,316 $87,877 N/A 41%
Unitek College
Hayward, CA · Private For-Profit
$19,130 -$6,862 $87,877 N/A 41%

How We Match Schools

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

Only schools with a lower average net price than West Coast University-Texas 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 West Coast University-Texas?
We found 12 schools similar to West Coast University-Texas that cost less. The closest match is Chamberlain University-Indiana with 67% similarity and a net price of $16,149.
What is the ROI of attending West Coast University-Texas?
West Coast University-Texas has an average net price of $25,992. Graduates earn a median of $102,672 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 4.0x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than West Coast University-Texas for less money?
Yes — 1 of 12 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus costs $12,116 (saving $13,876) with median earnings of $102,772.
What is the cheapest alternative to West Coast University-Texas?
The most affordable similar school is United States Merchant Marine Academy at $6,174, saving $19,818 compared to West Coast University-Texas. It has a 44% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 12 alternatives have an average median earnings of $93,886 compared to West Coast University-Texas's $102,672. While alternatives cost less, their average earnings are also lower. 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.