DegreeMappercommunity colleges, mapped

Cheapest community colleges in Texas

Community colleges in Texas ranked by published in-state tuition, lowest first. Published tuition is the sticker price; the price you actually pay is typically much lower after federal Pell grants and state aid. Use this list as a starting point, then file the FAFSA to see your real cost.

  1. Lamar State College-Port ArthurPort Arthur, TX$1,770
  2. Tarrant County College DistrictFort Worth, TX$1,863
  3. Alvin Community CollegeAlvin, TX$1,906
  4. Collin County Community College DistrictMcKinney, TX$2,014
  5. Houston Community CollegeHouston, TX$2,040
  6. Amarillo CollegeAmarillo, TX$2,136
  7. Kilgore CollegeKilgore, TX$2,160
  8. College of the MainlandTexas City, TX$2,310
  9. Brazosport CollegeLake Jackson, TX$2,388
  10. Tyler Junior CollegeTyler, TX$2,400
  11. San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena, TX$2,490
  12. Austin Community College DistrictAustin, TX$2,550
  13. Southwest Texas CollegeUvalde, TX$2,646
  14. Odessa CollegeOdessa, TX$2,688
  15. Dallas CollegeDallas, TX$2,730
  16. South Plains CollegeLevelland, TX$2,731
  17. Howard CollegeBig Spring, TX$2,766
  18. Ranger CollegeRanger, TX$2,766
  19. Lamar Institute of TechnologyBeaumont, TX$2,844
  20. Coastal Bend CollegeBeeville, TX$2,916
  21. Victoria CollegeVictoria, TX$2,976
  22. Northeast Texas Community CollegeMount Pleasant, TX$2,980
  23. Temple CollegeTemple, TX$3,000
  24. Navarro CollegeCorsicana, TX$3,008
  25. Texas Southmost CollegeBrownsville, TX$3,148
  26. Wharton County Junior CollegeWharton, TX$3,192
  27. Laredo CollegeLaredo, TX$3,300
  28. Western Texas CollegeSnyder, TX$3,300
  29. Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands, TX$3,330
  30. Northeast Lakeview CollegeUniversal City, TX$3,412
  31. Northwest Vista CollegeSan Antonio, TX$3,412
  32. Palo Alto CollegeSan Antonio, TX$3,412
  33. San Antonio CollegeSan Antonio, TX$3,412
  34. Del Mar CollegeCorpus Christi, TX$3,440
  35. Hill CollegeHillsboro, TX$3,570
  36. North Central Texas CollegeGainesville, TX$3,600
  37. McLennan Community CollegeWaco, TX$3,660
  38. Vernon CollegeVernon, TX$3,720
  39. Central Texas CollegeKilleen, TX$3,750
  40. El Paso Community CollegeEl Paso, TX$4,080
  41. Cisco CollegeCisco, TX$4,710
  42. Blinn College DistrictBrenham, TX$4,890
  43. South Texas CollegeMcAllen, TX$4,920
  44. Weatherford CollegeWeatherford, TX$5,250
  45. Jacksonville College-Main CampusJacksonville, TX$8,850
  46. Interactive College of TechnologyHouston, TX$10,970
  47. Interactive College of TechnologyHouston, TX$10,970
  48. Baptist Health System School of Health ProfessionsSan Antonio, TX$13,760
  49. Southwestern Christian CollegeTerrell, TX$14,638
  50. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral ServiceHouston, TX$15,313

Reading the list

The figures above are the published in-state tuition rates each Texas community college reports to the U.S. Department of Education. These are the rates posted to the institution's tuition schedule before any aid is applied. For most Texas community-college students, federal Pell grants alone cover a substantial share of tuition, and state aid programs in Texas often cover the remainder for residents who qualify. Out-of-state tuition is typically higher; check the individual college profile for both rates.

Tuition alone is not the right comparison for a complete cost picture. The College Scorecard also reports total annual cost of attendance — tuition plus required fees, books, room and board (if applicable), and other expenses — which is the more meaningful number when you are budgeting for a year of school. Each college's full profile lists cost of attendance alongside tuition. For students who can live at home and avoid room-and-board costs, the gap between tuition and cost of attendance shrinks substantially.

If your goal is the lowest possible total cost, the cheapest tuition isn't always the right pick. A slightly more expensive program with a higher transfer rate or stronger articulation agreement with a four-year university may produce a lower total degree cost overall, because lost credit on transfer can erase the savings of a low community-college tuition.