College ROI Report
Updated 2024
Best-value Colleges in Texas
There is no shortage of colleges in Texas, and Payscale’s College ROI Report helps make choosing a college in Texas easier by using our salary data to show which college alumni earn the most after graduation.
| Rank | School Name | 20 Year Net ROI | Total 4 Year Cost | Graduation Rate | Typical Years to Graduate | Average Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: Rice University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$834,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$283,000 | Graduation Rate:94% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$43,300 |
| Rank:2 | School Name: Texas A & M University-College Station (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$717,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$126,000 | Graduation Rate:84% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$34,100 |
| Rank:3 | School Name: - Austin_50px.png) The University of Texas at Austin (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$703,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$117,000 | Graduation Rate:88% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$23,400 |
| Rank:4 | School Name: The University of Texas at Dallas (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$655,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$123,000 | Graduation Rate:70% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$27,900 |
| Rank:5 | School Name:_50px.gif) University of Houston (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$636,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$99,500 | Graduation Rate:63% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$25,500 |
| Rank:6 | School Name:Texas A & M University-College Station (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$610,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$232,000 | Graduation Rate:84% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$34,100 |
| Rank:7 | School Name: Texas Tech University (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$600,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$107,000 | Graduation Rate:64% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$33,400 |
| Rank:8 | School Name:The University of Texas at Austin (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$589,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$231,000 | Graduation Rate:88% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$23,400 |
| Rank:9 | School Name:University of Houston (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$587,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$149,000 | Graduation Rate:63% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$25,500 |
| Rank:10 | School Name:_50px.png) The University of Texas at Arlington (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$584,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$113,000 | Graduation Rate:53% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$23,800 |
Students who attend school in the Lone Star State can choose from many distinguished colleges while enjoying the state’s amazing weather, its Gulf Coast beaches, its vibrant cities and the unique culture. No matter what draws you to the state, using Payscale’s data to zero in on the best value colleges in Texas can help make sure you don’t get stuck in student loan debt you can never pay back.
Consistently ranked among the top 100 universities in the world, Rice University is an esteemed engineering school that has produced many illustrious alumni, including numerous Rhodes Scholars, Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and Fulbright Scholars. Best known for its applied science programs, Rice is certain to give you remarkable bang for your buck.
Many students flock to tiny College Station, Texas to attend Texas A&M. The sprawling university in a tiny town is home to the George Bush Presidential Library and includes a senior military college with a full-time corps of volunteer cadets. It’s also home to the most famous all-male cheer squad in the country, the Yell Squad. The famously conservative school counts several NASA astronauts and former Texas governor Rick Perry among its alumni. Texas A&M’s Aggies are also famous for their school spirit.
With its location in notoriously hip, quirky Austin — which also happens to be the state capital — the University of Texas delivers a serious value for the cost of a college education. Regarded as a “Public Ivy” because it offers a quality of education found in the Ivy League while still being a public institution, UT has an undergrad population of nearly 40,000. The Longhorns don’t just perform on the football field, they go on to have prosperous careers.
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