Austin College
Sherman, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 47.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 66/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Austin College scores 66 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. Average 6-year earnings of $39,900 against a $21,107 net price produce an 8.5-year payback period and a 0.614 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 67.1% completion rate and 78.9% repayment rate are both roughly average. Austin College is a small (1,165 students) Presbyterian liberal arts institution in Sherman, Texas. The earnings premium of 0.311 (score 69) is above average. Program outcomes are concentrated in smaller graduate cohorts, limiting Scorecard confidence. History (26 graduates, ROI grade B) and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (17 graduates, ROI grade B) are the strongest-graded programs. Finance (29 graduates, $38,592 year-one, $81,613 at year four, ROI grade C) and Computer Science (12 graduates, $35,462 year-one) show weaker year-one earnings but stronger four-year trajectories. Biology (31 graduates, ROI grade F) and Psychology (30 graduates, ROI grade F) are poor performers at the one-year mark, likely reflecting pre-professional pipeline students rather than direct employment.
Austin College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $48,680/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $48,680/yr |
| Average net price | $21,107/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $84,428 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,296 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $260 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 67.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,165 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $48,680/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,107/year, or roughly $84,428 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $16,528/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,470/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,500, which works out to about $260 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,900) and comes to 0.61, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,528 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,687 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,823 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,608 |
| $110,001+ | $28,470 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $16,528 per year.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $18,823, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $21,608. The 8.5-year payback period is long but manageable at this net price level, particularly for career-track students in finance or pre-law.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $28,470 per year. Four-year cost around $114,000 against $39,900 average earnings does not produce a strong financial return on a simple payback model.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Austin College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $55,011 | D |
| Biology | $49,875 | F |
| Psychology | $43,522 | F |
| Finance and Financial Management | $81,613 | C |
| History | $59,833 | B |
| Public Health | $27,514 | D |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $58,913 | B |
| International Relations | $23,243 | D |
| Economics | $67,071 | - |
| Computer Science | $76,196 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
History
History earns the strongest ROI grade at Austin College: 26 graduates, Scorecard does not report year-one earnings, $59,833 at year four, ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.435 with $26,000 median debt. The four-year earnings of $59k are solid for history at a small private Texas liberal arts school.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance produces 29 graduates with $38,592 year-one and $81,613 at year four, C ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.674 with $26,000 median debt. Students who complete finance here and enter Texas banking or corporate finance can reach competitive compensation, but the path is not linear based on the Scorecard data.
Psychology
Psychology enrolls 30 graduates with an F ROI grade: $23,054 year-one, $43,522 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.084 with $25,000 median debt. This cohort is likely disproportionately headed to graduate programs in counseling, clinical psychology, or social work. Without graduate funding, the debt-to-earnings ratio makes the standalone bachelor's in psychology financially difficult here.
Biology
Biology shows 31 graduates with an F ROI grade: $18,071 year-one, $49,875 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.343 with $24,277 median debt. Year-one of $18k against $24,277 in debt describes a pre-med or pre-graduate pipeline cohort earning very little while applying to professional schools. The four-year figure of nearly $50k likely reflects early careers rather than the medical school outcome. Biology at Austin College, like most selective liberal arts schools, primarily serves students intending graduate or professional school.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Austin College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 47.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-29 |
| Enrollment | 1,165 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,628 |
Austin College admits 47.7% of applicants with SAT 550-650 Math and 550-660 Reading and ACT 23-29. This is a selectively competitive institution - roughly half of applicants are declined. The academic bar combined with the small campus size means a relatively homogeneous, engaged student body. Students below the 25th percentile SAT/ACT should treat this application as a reach.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin College (this school) | 66 | $21,107 | $61,296 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Allegheny College | 63 | $22,940 | $62,069 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
Austin College admits 47.7% of applicants - meaningfully selective for a small regional private. SAT mid-ranges are 550-650 Math and 550-660 Reading; ACT composite 23-29. Enrollment is 1,165. The campus is small, residential, and focused on a traditional liberal arts model with strong pre-professional health and pre-law tracks. Students drawn to close faculty relationships and a faith-connected but not strictly devotional campus culture will find a fit here.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Austin College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $21,107 a year after aid ($84,428 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $61,296 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $24,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Austin College: Common Questions
Is Austin College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Austin College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 66/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,107 a year after aid ($84,428 over four years) against $61,296 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Austin College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,107 a year, or roughly $84,428 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Austin College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,296 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,496 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Austin College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.5 years for Austin College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Austin College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,500, against average earnings of $39,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Austin College?
The six-year graduation rate is 67.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.