Harlingen, Texas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Harlingen, Texas: median graduate debt $7,578 (-42.9% vs U.S.) 630 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 630 students
- Median net price: $20,682 (+107.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $7,578 (-42.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,004
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Harlingen serve students across Texas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 630 students enrolled in federal data. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Harlingen, Texas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Harlingen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlingen, Texas | N/A | $20,682 | $7,578 | N/A | 630 |
| Texas (state median) | $3,555 | $8,031 | $10,652 | 45.0% | 1,240,605 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Harlingen, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlingen, Texas | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| Texas (state median) | $54,338 | 89.8% | 69.6% | 6.9% | — | 69.4% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlingen, Texas | N/A | $20,682 | $7,578 | N/A | 630 | N/A | N/A |
| Houston | $12,445 | $19,626 | $11,533 | 46.7% | 137,452 | $59,224 | 87.5% |
| San Antonio | $11,707 | $20,465 | $9,500 | 50.5% | 111,767 | $56,844 | 90.7% |
| Austin | $23,500 | $21,991 | $9,120 | 44.6% | 82,274 | $59,854 | 89.8% |
| Dallas | $17,692 | $22,774 | $12,785 | 50.0% | 62,146 | $42,797 | 87.6% |
| Dallas | $17,692 | $22,774 | $12,785 | 50.0% | 62,146 | $42,797 | 87.6% |
| Dallas | $17,692 | $22,774 | $12,785 | 50.0% | 62,146 | $42,797 | 87.6% |
| Fort Worth | $11,934 | $24,181 | $15,500 | 31.5% | 57,100 | $61,238 | 90.7% |
| El Paso | $9,744 | $16,242 | $11,000 | 65.5% | 50,598 | $50,923 | 89.2% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Student debt: Harlingen, Texas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Harlingen, Texas is $7,578 (-42.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,004.
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
Median graduate debt is $7,578 (-42.9% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Harlingen?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Harlingen, Texas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Harlingen?
Median in-state tuition in Harlingen is N/A and median net price is $20,682. For Texas overall, medians are $3,555 and $8,031; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Harlingen?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Harlingen is N/A vs $54,338 for Texas and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Harlingen colleges?
Median completer debt in Harlingen is $7,578 vs $10,652 for Texas and $13,271 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Harlingen?
Among 3 campuses in Harlingen, Texas, 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-Harlingen and Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen.
Sources & related
- Texas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON