Pasadena, Texas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Pasadena, Texas: median public in-state tuition $6,730 (+18.1% vs national median) median graduate debt $8,726 (-35.4% vs U.S.) 23,055 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Pasadena serve students across Texas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 23,055 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $6,730. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Pasadena, Texas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Pasadena vs Texas & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena, Texas | $6,730 | $10,368 | $8,726 | 29.0% | 23,055 |
| Texas (state median) | $3,540 | $7,932 | $9,750 | 43.0% | 1,240,605 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Pasadena, Texas vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena, Texas | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| Texas (state median) | $57,299 | 91.8% | 69.6% | 6.9% | — | 69.4% | 0.35 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
Other cities in Texas (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena, Texas | $6,730 | $10,368 | $8,726 | 29.0% | 23,055 | N/A | N/A |
| Houston | $12,505 | $19,358 | $10,667 | 48.3% | 137,452 | $64,410 | 91.2% |
| San Antonio | $11,760 | $17,214 | $9,500 | 44.9% | 111,767 | $59,684 | 91.8% |
| Austin | $25,000 | $26,081 | $9,500 | 43.2% | 82,274 | $64,686 | 91.8% |
| Dallas | $18,523 | $23,963 | $10,667 | 38.7% | 62,146 | $51,797 | 90.1% |
| Dallas | $18,523 | $23,963 | $10,667 | 38.7% | 62,146 | $51,797 | 90.1% |
| Dallas | $18,523 | $23,963 | $10,667 | 38.7% | 62,146 | $51,797 | 90.1% |
| Fort Worth | $12,350 | $21,718 | $14,500 | 38.4% | 57,100 | $66,958 | 92.8% |
| El Paso | $12,375 | $17,332 | $12,750 | 66.2% | 50,598 | $54,599 | 90.7% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
In-state tuition: Pasadena, Texas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Pasadena, Texas median in-state tuition is $6,730, +18.1% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Pasadena, Texas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Pasadena, Texas is $8,726 (-35.4% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $12,048.
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Pasadena, Texas median public in-state tuition is $6,730, about +18.1% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +81.2%.
Median graduate debt is $8,726 (-35.4% below the U.S. median of $13,500). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Pasadena, Texas is 29.0% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Pasadena?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Pasadena, Texas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Pasadena?
Median in-state tuition in Pasadena is $6,730 and median net price is $10,368. For Texas overall, medians are $3,540 and $7,932; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Pasadena?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Pasadena is N/A vs $57,299 for Texas and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Pasadena colleges?
Median completer debt in Pasadena is $8,726 vs $9,750 for Texas and $13,500 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Pasadena?
Among 3 campuses in Pasadena, Texas, 2 campuses report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Department of Education data; examples include San Jacinto Community College and Interactive College of Technology.
Sources & related
- Texas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON