Huston-Tillotson University
Austin, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 39.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 14/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Huston-Tillotson University, an HBCU private nonprofit in Austin, TX, scores 14 on the ROI index - one of the lowest in our dataset and a real concern given its mission importance. Sticker tuition is $26,709, net price is $19,719. Median earnings at six years are $29,900, rising to $42,937 at 10 years - the 10-year recovery is real but the early-career years are weak. The damaging numbers: median debt of $30,750 produces a 1.028 debt-to-earnings ratio (debt exceeds first-year earnings), payback period is 27.6 years, and the completion rate is just 33.9%. The three-year repayment rate of 50.6% is also poor. The earnings premium over high-school baseline is 10.1%. Enrollment is 1,005, Pell rate is 61%, signaling a heavy low-income enrollment that the cost structure is not adequately serving. HBCUs face structural underfunding that distorts these metrics; the algorithm is honest about the math but not about the cause. Prospective students should weigh institutional mission against the debt-load reality the data reflects.
The data raises concerns about Huston-Tillotson University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score14/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.03 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- 6-year graduation rate33.9% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period27.6 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Huston-Tillotson University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $26,709/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $26,709/yr |
| Average net price | $19,719/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $78,876 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,937 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $30,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $326 |
| Estimated payback period | 27.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 33.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,005 |
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: $26,709/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,719/year, or roughly $78,876 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 $19,219/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,418/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $30,750 in federal loans, which works out to about $326 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $42,937 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 1.03, which is high - the rule of thumb is that total debt should not top your first-year salary, and this is over that line.
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 | $19,219 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,361 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,487 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,757 |
| $110,001+ | $24,418 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Households at $0-$30,000 pay $19,219 net, while $30,001-$48,000 pays $19,361. These are roughly flat - the institution's aid does not meaningfully reduce price for low-income families relative to the median. With $29,900 six-year median earnings, the four-year cost-to-earnings ratio is roughly 2.6x, weak by any standard.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $20,487 ($48,001-$75,000) and $22,757 ($75,001-$110,000). The price climbs by about $3,500 across these bands - a normal progressive aid curve. For middle-income Texas families, the in-state public alternative (UT-Austin or Texas State) typically delivers materially better ROI math.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $24,418. Total 4-year cost approaches $98,000. The HBCU mission has real value for some high-income Black families seeking culturally-aligned education, but on conventional ROI math against $42,937 ten-year earnings, the price doesn't clear.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 31.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 50.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 32.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 41.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Huston-Tillotson University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 39.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 370-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 430-590 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-28 |
| Enrollment | 1,005 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 61.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,364 |
Admission rate is reported at 39.1% - the most selective figure in our dataset - with SAT mid-range of 370-570 math and 430-590 reading, and ACT mid-range 16-28. The selective admit rate combined with relatively wide score bands suggests holistic admissions where the 39.1% figure may reflect application self-selection rather than tight academic gating. The 33.9% completion rate, despite the selective admit rate, is the more concerning signal - only one in three enrollees finishes, well below what the admit profile would predict.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peer institutions include Abilene Christian University, Arlington Baptist University, Fisk University, Dillard University, and Wilberforce University. Fisk, Dillard, and Wilberforce are the meaningful HBCU peers - all face similar structural completion and earnings challenges. Fisk typically posts somewhat better completion (around 50%), while Dillard and Wilberforce sit closer to Huston-Tillotson's 33.9% rate. Abilene Christian, a non-HBCU Texas private, scores significantly higher on the ROI index thanks to better completion and lower debt.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huston-Tillotson University (this school) | 14 | $19,719 | $42,937 |
| Oakwood University | 14 | $25,669 | $42,488 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
| Clark Atlanta University | 14 | $37,702 | $42,712 |
| Jackson State University | 14 | $23,836 | $39,060 |
| Fisk University | 14 | $32,020 | $45,454 |
Who Thrives Here
Fits Texas-region Black students seeking the HBCU experience and Austin metro placement, particularly those with family or community ties to the institution who can manage the debt-to-earnings risk through targeted majors. Enrollment of 1,005 is small for a four-year university; 61% Pell rate confirms the heavy low-income mission. Strong outcomes likely cluster in students who land Austin-area professional placements; students entering more constrained labor markets face a real risk of the median 1.028 debt-to-earnings ratio.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Huston-Tillotson University are a real concern. With a net cost of $19,719 per year and the typical graduate earning only $42,937 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 27.6 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 33.9% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Be careful with the debt here. A median $30,750 owed against $42,937 in earnings is heavy, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 is past the level advisors flag. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
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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.