Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Texas
Colleges ranked by what former students earn ten years after enrolling, compared with four years of net price.
Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Texas20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by earnings for the price.
How this list is made
- Schools in Texas.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by earnings divided by four years of net price, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Rice University
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Texas
- Earnings are 1.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $89,718 ten years out
- 2Tie
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · PublicHonor Roll#2 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.9× the four-year net price
- Earnings $75,121 ten years out
- 2Tie
The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX · Public#8 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.9× the four-year net price
- Earnings $68,227 ten years out
- 4Tie
Texas A&M University-College Station
College Station, TX · PublicHonor Roll#6 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $72,097 ten years out
- 4Tie
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX · Public#18 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $62,454 ten years out
- 4Tie
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitTop 22% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $59,224 ten years out
- 4Tie
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $71,668 ten years out
- 8
Austin College
Sherman, TX · Private nonprofit#14 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $61,296 ten years out
- 9Tie
University of Dallas
Irving, TX · Private nonprofit#13 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $58,285 ten years out
- 9Tie
Saint Edward's University
Austin, TX · Private nonprofit#22 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $58,826 ten years out
- 11Tie
Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX · Private nonprofit#20 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $55,736 ten years out
- 11Tie
Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · Private for-profitTop 10% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $61,480 ten years out
- 11Tie
LeTourneau University
Longview, TX · Private nonprofit#17 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $57,103 ten years out
- 11Tie
Criswell College
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit#25 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $43,185 ten years out
- 11Tie
Southwestern University
Georgetown, TX · Private nonprofit#11 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $56,878 ten years out
- 11Tie
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#4 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $78,354 ten years out
- 11Tie
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#5 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $68,424 ten years out
- 18Tie
Wade College
Dallas, TX · Private for-profit#15 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.4× the four-year net price
- Earnings $36,657 ten years out
- 18Tie
Baylor University
Waco, TX · Private nonprofit#7 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.4× the four-year net price
- Earnings $65,793 ten years out
- 18Tie
Parker University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit#11 in Texas
- Earnings are 0.4× the four-year net price
- Earnings $42,091 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice University | About $13,000 | $11,000 | $89,718 | 95% |
| The University of Texas at Austin | About $20,000 | $20,500 | $75,121 | 89% |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | About $18,000 | $18,000 | $68,227 | 76% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | About $21,000 | $17,804 | $72,097 | 84% |
| Texas Tech University | About $19,000 | $21,500 | $62,454 | 69% |
| University of St. Thomas | About $19,000 | $19,928 | $59,224 | 69% |
| Trinity University | About $23,000 | $22,954 | $71,668 | 84% |
| Austin College | About $21,000 | $24,500 | $61,296 | 67% |
| University of Dallas | About $23,000 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| Saint Edward's University | About $26,000 | $24,803 | $58,826 | 63% |
| Abilene Christian University | About $26,000 | $24,250 | $55,736 | 59% |
| Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio | About $29,000 | $24,166 | $61,480 | 81% |
| LeTourneau University | About $28,000 | $26,000 | $57,103 | 59% |
| Criswell College | About $22,000 | $25,346 | $43,185 | 50% |
| Southwestern University | About $29,000 | $25,000 | $56,878 | 73% |
| Southern Methodist University | About $41,000 | $19,500 | $78,354 | 84% |
| Texas Christian University | About $37,000 | $21,500 | $68,424 | 86% |
| Wade College | About $21,000 | $22,938 | $36,657 | 54% |
| Baylor University | About $41,000 | $23,000 | $65,793 | 80% |
| Parker University | About $29,000 | $12,288 | $42,091 | 74% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 62
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 77
- North Carolina 16
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 10
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15