10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$168,818at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
Lone Star College System
The Woodlands, TX · 29 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 28 · Federal debt reported for 21
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Negative payoff
−$168,818 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
40.0 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
−75%Estimated return after 10 years
$50,619Observed earnings · year 5
Not reachedHighest annual price before payoff reaches $0
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $10,756 housing and food allowance plus $5,084 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$123,810
$8,000Annual price−$155,810
$11,000Current college-wide context−$167,810
$16,000Annual price−$187,810
$24,000Annual price−$219,810
$32,000Annual price−$251,810
$40,000Annual price−$283,810
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Most students take at least some classes online.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Main award level
- Associate degrees
- Campus setting
- City
- Admissions
- Open admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
DUAL-ENROLLMENT CONTEXT · 2024
26,101 high-school students took college courses.
IPEDS counts students enrolled in college credit while still in high school. A large dual-enrollment population can shape headline enrollment figures, especially at community colleges.
This is participation, not a college completion rate. It does not indicate how many students later enrolled after high school, earned a credential or entered the workforce.
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in Texas run 3% below the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$11,252Average net price / year
$15,521Cost of attendance
$8,600Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$91/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$50,619Median earnings · year 5 after completion
21.1%Completion rate
Not availableAdmission rate
45,188Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about Lone Star College System
What does Lone Star College System cost?
Lone Star College System reports an average annual net price of $11,252 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do Lone Star College System graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $50,619 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do Lone Star College System graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $8,600. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at Lone Star College System worth the same?
No. The current release contains 29 field-and-degree records for Lone Star College System; 28 report year-4 earnings and 21 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
111,144Students enrolled at any point
111,144Undergraduate students
Not availableGraduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
24% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
54 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
29% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$39,488Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$48,025Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$52,710Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income24%
Middle income39%
Higher income47%
Undergraduate student composition
White21%
Black15%
Hispanic46%
Asian6%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
INDEPENDENT CENSUS EARNINGS VIEW
How earnings develop by field
Privacy-protected Census employment records follow graduate cohorts one, five and ten years after completion. This source is kept separate from College Scorecard because its population and methodology differ.
Field and credentialYear 1Year 5Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Associate degree · Broad federal field 51
$68,125Year 1
$83,935Year 5
$93,110Year 10
Criminal Justice and Corrections.Certificate, less than 1 year · Broad federal field 43
$47,574Year 1
$74,996Year 5
$90,499Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Certificate, 1–2 years · Broad federal field 51
$44,543Year 1
$69,682Year 5
$88,935Year 10
Criminal Justice and Corrections.Associate degree · Broad federal field 43
$72,057Year 1
$77,093Year 5
$88,921Year 10
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians.Associate degree · Broad federal field 15
$51,028Year 1
$70,257Year 5
$88,123Year 10
Computer Programming.Associate degree · Broad federal field 11
$46,337Year 1
$64,754Year 5
$81,237Year 10
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians.Certificate, less than 1 year · Broad federal field 15
$47,763Year 1
$62,402Year 5
$78,876Year 10
Anthropology.Certificate, less than 1 year · Broad federal field 45
$48,487Year 1
$66,850Year 5
$76,015Year 10
Median annual earnings in 2023 dollars. Each time point may use a different pooled graduation cohort. Coverage is limited to institutions participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$34,391Year 1
$52,634Year 4
$50,619Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Associate's Degree$93,6652Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$83,6363Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$82,4764Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Associate's Degree$73,6555Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$71,6646Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$67,2787Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Associate's Degree$58,1548Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services · Associate's Degree$54,262Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $82,476 reported+43%vs same-degree national median$11,234federal debt2Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsAssociate's Degree · $53,830 reported+43%vs same-degree national median$8,479federal debt3Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/TechniciansUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $49,612 reported+42%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt4Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesAssociate's Degree · $54,262 reported+28%vs same-degree national median$14,000federal debt5Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $71,664 reported+25%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt6Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing AssistantsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $67,278 reported+20%vs same-degree national median$13,323federal debt
Comparable colleges in TX
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Pasadena, TX
San Jacinto Community College
- Annual net price
- $12,143
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $50,896
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -74%
Temple College
- Annual net price
- $10,682
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $48,959
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -82%
Central Texas College
- Annual net price
- $10,265
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $52,481
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -66%
Blinn College District
- Annual net price
- $10,844
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $47,870
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -87%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing all 29 field-and-degree records in the current release.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate's Degree | $93,665 | $15,000 | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $83,636 | $8,875 | 682 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $82,476 | $11,234 | 200 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate's Degree | $73,655 | $10,926 | Not reported |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $71,664 | Not available | 226 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $67,278 | $13,323 | 39 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate's Degree | $58,154 | Not available | Not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate's Degree | $54,262 | $14,000 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Associate's Degree | $53,830 | $8,479 | Not reported |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | Associate's Degree | $53,830 | Not available | Not reported |
| Legal Support Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $53,690 | $17,251 | 62 |
| Precision Metal Working | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $53,293 | $4,562 | 139 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Associate's Degree | $50,935 | $12,500 | Not reported |
| Business/Commerce, General | Associate's Degree | $50,531 | $7,954 | Not reported |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $49,612 | Not available | 32 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | Associate's Degree | $48,427 | Not available | Not reported |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Associate's Degree | $47,859 | $9,689 | Not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $47,451 | $5,500 | 154 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Associate's Degree | $46,772 | $17,170 | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $46,136 | $6,550 | 84 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Associate's Degree | $44,057 | $10,542 | Not reported |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $43,120 | Not available | 324 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $41,600 | $10,015 | 759 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $40,990 | $9,105 | 120 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $40,319 | $4,912 | 162 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Associate's Degree | $37,632 | Not available | Not reported |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | Associate's Degree | $34,994 | Not available | Not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $20,853 | $5,500 | 70 |
| Mechanical Engineering | Associate's Degree | Not available | $15,848 | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.