Odessa College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Odessa, Texas. It enrolls 4,654 students (a mid-sized 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
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 (4-Year Open / Online). 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
74/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes50
Value85
Affordability50
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Odessa College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Odessa 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 $6,368 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$6,368
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
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)
$2,688
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$4,926
Room & Board (on-campus)
$6,930
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,139
Books & Supplies
$450
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,269
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,369
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,086
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
$5,648
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,001
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,407
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,864
Over $110,000
$10,586
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.
$1,53310%percentile
$2,86125%percentile
$7,750Medianpercentile
$9,50075%percentile
$17,25090%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 $7,167
↓ $583
No Pell $5,500
↓ $2,250
Dependent students $4,271
↓ $3,479
Independent students $9,112
↑ $1,362
Female students $7,092
↓ $658
Male students $5,500
↓ $2,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,504, close to what completers borrow ($7,750) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
21% of full-time students who enrolled at Odessa College graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
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 Odessa College earn a median of $42,026 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,026
Earning > $25K
66%
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
$32,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$62,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $30,300, about 48% 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 ↑
6.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Odessa College is home to 4,654 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 57% are first-generation college students, 45% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
4,654
Part-Time
45%
First-Generation
57%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 68.3%3,180
White 20.2%938
Black 6.3%295
International 1.8%82
Asian 1.1%53
Other 0.5%21
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Odessa College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityOdessa, Texas
Housing
Limited on-campus housing238 beds
Adult Learners
20%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Odessa College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
51 distinct programs across
23 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Odessa College is 24:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
24:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,420
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$21M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,303
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
127 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
11
9%
$81,925
Associate Professors
46
36%
$67,984
Assistant Professors
13
10%
$72,714
Instructors
57
45%
$56,014
Pros & Cons of Odessa College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Odessa College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Odessa College is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Odessa College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Odessa College.
How much does Odessa College cost?
The average net price after aid at Odessa College is $6,368 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Odessa College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,026 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,368 per year. That's roughly 6.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Odessa College known for?
Odessa College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Odessa College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Odessa College are $42,026, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Odessa College accredited?
Yes. Odessa College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Odessa College?
Odessa College enrolls 4,654 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Odessa College?
Odessa College graduates 21% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Odessa College a public or private college?
Odessa College is a Public institution.
Where is Odessa College located?
Odessa College is located in Odessa, Texas.
What programs does Odessa College offer?
Odessa College offers 51 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Odessa College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Odessa College is 24:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Odessa College
Odessa College appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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80 UCD Score
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$63,199 Top Earn
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91 UCD Score
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91 UCD Score
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$1,342 Lowest Net
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