Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees in Texas by ROI
Colleges in Texas ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in Texas
24
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$180,925
Across Texas programs
Average Annual Cost
$32,888
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The University of Texas at Austin
Grad rate: 87.7% |
+$68,991 | $52,704 | $29,842 | $19,052 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Texas State University
Grad rate: 56.0% |
-$35,400 | $47,295 | $26,348 | $26,599 | Full ROI → |
| 3 | Texas A&M University-Central Texas | -$43,788 | $43,986 | $13,220 | $22,688 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Southern Methodist University
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$57,788 | $55,617 | $82,532 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of the Incarnate Word
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$73,255 | $48,925 | $45,850 | $21,004 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Texas Woman's University
Grad rate: 46.2% |
-$91,339 | $43,715 | $20,399 | $32,625 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Nelson University
Grad rate: 38.6% |
-$94,051 | $45,867 | $32,765 | $29,875 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
University of North Texas
Grad rate: 59.2% |
-$121,662 | $42,513 | $25,470 | $22,254 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
The University of Texas at Arlington
Grad rate: 55.1% |
-$134,452 | $42,271 | $25,265 | $28,750 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
University of Houston
Grad rate: 64.0% |
-$148,194 | $41,019 | $25,056 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Grad rate: 52.3% |
-$183,681 | $38,759 | $21,474 | $24,419 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Texas Southern University
Grad rate: 22.5% |
-$190,271 | $40,740 | $24,899 | $48,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Texas Tech University
Grad rate: 67.1% |
-$206,330 | $39,116 | $27,472 | $28,713 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Grad rate: 50.9% |
-$212,132 | $35,062 | $18,343 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Sam Houston State University
Grad rate: 55.6% |
-$218,510 | $37,716 | $24,517 | $25,750 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees by State
Browse Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.