Home
Colleges
Texas
McLennan Community College

Public Associate Strong 75/100

McLennan Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

Compare This College

Waco, Texas

About McLennan Community College

McLennan Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Waco, Texas. It enrolls 5,668 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: mclennan.edu

Acceptance: Open
Graduation: 23%
Net Price: $5,051
Median Earnings (10yr): $39,163
Enrollment: 5,668
Student : Faculty: 15:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

75/100

UCD Score · 2-Year

Outcomes 46

Value 87

Affordability 69

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, McLennan Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending McLennan Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,051 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$5,051

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

38%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

20%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $3,660
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $5,910
Room & Board (off-campus): $8,424
Books & Supplies: $1,500
Other Expenses (off-campus): $5,301
Total Cost of Attendance: $12,920

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$5,053
$30,001 – $48,000

$4,987
$75,001 – $110,000

$4,744

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,750

10% percentile

$2,750

25% percentile

$10,500

Median percentile

$12,788

75% percentile

$24,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $6,747 ↓ $3,753

No Pell $4,500 ↓ $6,000

Dependent students $5,250 ↓ $5,250

Independent students $7,043 ↓ $3,457

Female students $6,750 ↓ $3,750

Male students $4,755 ↓ $5,745

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,250, less than completers ($10,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

23% of full-time students who enrolled at McLennan Community College graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

23%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

68%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered McLennan Community College earn a median of $39,163 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$39,163

Earning > $25K

64%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$31,200

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$41,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$30,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$39,000

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$44,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,000, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 18.8 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 62% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

McLennan Community College is home to 5,668 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students, 55% study part-time.

Total Enrolled

5,668

Part-Time

55%

First-Generation

47%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 39.3% 2,226

Hispanic 37.9% 2,148

Black 14.9% 842

Other 3.3% 189

Asian 2.0% 111

International 0.4% 21

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at McLennan Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize City Waco, Texas

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

25% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

McLennan Community College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 52 distinct programs across 17 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

10 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)
Mental Health Services $52K ($38K–$69K)

12 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business $68K ($48K–$95K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

1 Program

Personal Services

Cosmetology

6 Programs

Engineering

General Engineering $89K ($73K–$109K)
Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Electrical Engineering $101K ($85K–$122K)

4 Programs

Computer Science

IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)
Computer Programming $83K ($54K–$114K)
Data Entry & Office Tech

2 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Arts Therapy $48K ($32K–$65K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at McLennan Community College is 15:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

15:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$5,712

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$13M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$78,118

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

195 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	101	52%	$85,142
Associate Professors	57	29%	$73,366
Assistant Professors	35	18%	$66,613
Instructors	2	1%	$60,163

Pros & Cons of McLennan Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how McLennan Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options

CONS

Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel

Best for: Based on the data, McLennan Community College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about McLennan Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about McLennan Community College.

Is McLennan Community College hard to get into?

McLennan Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.

What is the acceptance rate at McLennan Community College?

McLennan Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does McLennan Community College cost?

The average net price after aid at McLennan Community College is $5,051 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is McLennan Community College worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,163 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,051 per year. That's roughly 7.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is McLennan Community College known for?

McLennan Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do McLennan Community College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering McLennan Community College are $39,163, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is McLennan Community College accredited?

Yes. McLennan Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

How many students attend McLennan Community College?

McLennan Community College enrolls 5,668 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at McLennan Community College?

McLennan Community College graduates 23% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is McLennan Community College a public or private college?

McLennan Community College is a Public institution.

Where is McLennan Community College located?

McLennan Community College is located in Waco, Texas.

What programs does McLennan Community College offer?

McLennan Community College offers 52 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Criminal Justice.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at McLennan Community College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at McLennan Community College is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.