Austin Community College is a public community college institution headquartered in Austin, TX with 11 campuses. It is accredited by SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges). The median federal student debt at graduation is $4,200, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median year-1 post-completion earnings are $38,400. Median year-4 earnings are $51,600. The debt-to-income ratio is 0.11. Estimated monthly payment on a 10-year standard repayment plan at 6.5% interest is $47. The 3-year student loan default rate is 3.1% (national average: ~4.5%). No CFPB complaints are on record. PlumbSquare's rating: PASS. This is what trade education looks like when it works. Six thousand dollars. Forty-seven dollars a month in loan payments. Thirty-eight thousand in year-one earnings. The same skills. Regional accreditation that transfers to a university if you ever want it. The only legitimate reason not to choose ACC over a for-profit school is waitlist length — and that's worth waiting for.
The Verdict.
This is what trade education looks like when it works. Six thousand dollars. Forty-seven dollars a month in loan payments. Thirty-eight thousand in year-one earnings. The same skills. Regional accreditation that transfers to a university if you ever want it. The only legitimate reason not to choose ACC over a for-profit school is waitlist length — and that's worth waiting for.
SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges). Regional accreditation — the highest standard. ACC credits transfer to UT Austin, Texas State, Texas A&M, and other universities. This is the gold standard accreditation.
The Numbers.
| ACC | Amount | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Program cost (range) | $4,900 – $6,200 | Tuition + fees + books/tools (est.) |
| Median federal debt | $4,200 | College Scorecard — median at graduation |
| Median earnings — Year 1 | $38,400 | College Scorecard post-completion earnings |
| Median earnings — Year 4 | $51,600 | Scorecard 4-yr post-completion median |
| Estimated monthly payment | $47/mo | 10-yr standard repayment at 6.5% |
| Debt ÷ year-1 earnings | 0.11× | Below 0.5× is manageable. Above 0.8× is a warning sign. |
| 3-year default rate | 3.1% | National avg: ~4.5%. Source: FSA NSLDS CDR database. |
- Total cost
- $6,000
- Debt at completion
- $0–$4K (Pell eligible)
- Accreditation
- Regional
- 3-yr default rate
- <4%
- Total cost
- $0
- Debt at completion
- $0
- Income while learning
- $44,000/yr
- Employer recognition
- Full — nationwide
Sources: College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education), FSA NSLDS Cohort Default Rate database, BLS OEWS May 2024. Community college cost estimate based on national NCES average for vocational certificates at public 2-year institutions. Union apprentice income based on IBEW/UA mid-market Year 1 rates.
Employer Recognition.
ACC's electrician and HVAC programs have articulation agreements with several Central Texas JATC programs. Some ACC coursework can count toward IBEW Local 520 apprenticeship related supplemental instruction (RSI) hours.
What the brochure won't say.
- 01ACC trade programs have waitlists — sometimes 6–12 months. This is genuinely the main drawback. Plan ahead.
- 02Pell Grant eligibility covers most or all ACC trade program costs for qualifying students — but you must complete the FAFSA and verify eligibility before assuming you'll owe nothing.
- 03Part-time evening programs take longer (18–24 months vs. 12 months full-time). Factor this into your timeline.
- 04Texas does not have universal reciprocity with all states for trade licensing. If you plan to move out of Texas within a few years, research the target state's licensing requirements.
Alternatives.
IBEW (electrical), UA (plumbing/pipefitting/HVAC), SMART (sheet metal), and other union JATCs run DOL-registered apprenticeship programs. You earn $18–$28/hr from day one. You graduate with zero debt and a journeyman card recognized by every employer in the country. They are competitive to get into — apply to multiple locals.
Find your trade →Public community colleges offer the same trade programs for $4,000–$8,000 total — often $0 out-of-pocket with Pell grants and state workforce funding. Regional accreditation means your credits are real. The main downside: waitlists of 6–18 months at popular programs. That wait is worth it.
Search your state's community college system at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator
Honest caveat on union apprenticeships:They are harder to get into than a for-profit school. Union locals have application windows, waiting lists of their own, and competitive selection processes. Some have political connections. If you don't get in the first time, apply again. The process is worth understanding before you default to a for-profit program because it said “enroll now.”
The Legal Record.
| Metric | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FTC action | None on record | No FTC enforcement actions found as of review date. |
| CFPB complaints | ~0 | Approximate count from CFPB public database. Includes parent company. |
| 3-yr default rate | 3.1% | FSA NSLDS official CDR. National average: ~4.5%. |
Legal data sourced from FTC.gov enforcement database, CFPB Consumer Complaint Database, and state attorney general public records. This is not a complete legal history. Do your own research at ftc.gov and consumerfinance.gov.