Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Corpus Christi is home to three colleges, with about 16,000 students on campus
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi (8,183 students on campus) and Del Mar College (7,289) are inside the city. About 6% of Corpus Christi’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Texas (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Corpus Christi. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Corpus Christi
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Corpus Christi
One private college within 12.6 miles, one public college within 9.6 miles, and Del Mar College 14.3 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Corpus Christi’s median household income ($67,394) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Corpus Christi: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Southern Careers Institute-Corpus Christi (8).
What students study in Corpus Christi
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Corpus Christi’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Corpus Christi
Is Corpus Christi a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Corpus Christi residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Texas (6). The largest campus in the city, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi, has 8,183 students on campus.
What colleges are in Corpus Christi?
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi, Del Mar College and Southern Careers Institute-Corpus Christi are inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Corpus Christi, and what does it cost?
Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, 14.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,440 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $3,399, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi cost if we live in Texas?
Tuition and fees are $9,748 a year in-state and $20,794 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,445 (under $30,000 income) to $23,426 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Corpus Christi. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →