Stafford, Texas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Stafford, Texas: median public in-state tuition $15,436 (+180.0% vs national median) employment-outcome proxy 86.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $6,421 (-51.6% vs U.S.) 1,159 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 1,159 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $15,436 (+180.0% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 86.7% (-1.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $20,970 (+110.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $6,421 (-51.6% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 31.6%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 46.0%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Stafford serve students across Texas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 1,159 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $15,436. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Stafford, Texas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Stafford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford, Texas | $15,436 | $20,970 | $6,421 | 31.6% | 1,159 |
| 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: Stafford, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford, Texas | N/A | 86.7% | 46.0% | — | — | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford, Texas | $15,436 | $20,970 | $6,421 | 31.6% | 1,159 | N/A | 86.7% |
| 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% |
Top college in Stafford, Texas by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 31.6%, North American University
North American University
Top college in Stafford, Texas by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 86.7%, North American University
North American University
Top college in Stafford, Texas by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $58,363, North American University
North American University
Top college in Stafford, Texas by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,221, North American University
North American University
Top college in Stafford, Texas by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $31,800, North American University
North American University
Top college in Stafford, Texas by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $66,026, North American University
North American University
Most affordable college in Stafford, Texas (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $18,721, North American University
North American University
Top college in Stafford, Texas by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 46.0%, North American University
North American University
In-state tuition: Stafford, Texas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Stafford, Texas median in-state tuition is $15,436, +180.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Stafford, Texas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Stafford, Texas is $6,421 (-51.6% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,004.
Employment outcome proxy: Stafford, Texas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 86.7% at the median Stafford, Texas campus (-1.3 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
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
Stafford, Texas median public in-state tuition is $15,436, about +180.0% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +318.8%.
Median graduate debt is $6,421 (-51.6% 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.
Earnings, employment & retention
The median campus reports 86.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-1.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 46.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include North American University (86.7%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Stafford, Texas is 31.6% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Stafford?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Stafford, Texas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Stafford?
Median in-state tuition in Stafford is $15,436 and median net price is $20,970. For Texas overall, medians are $3,555 and $8,031; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Stafford?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Stafford is N/A vs $54,338 for Texas and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Stafford colleges?
Median completer debt in Stafford is $6,421 vs $10,652 for Texas and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Stafford?
Top campuses on this page include North American University (graduation). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Stafford?
Among 2 campuses in Stafford, Texas, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford.
Sources & related
- Texas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON