Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches, Texas · Public · 94.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 47/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Stephen F. Austin State University scores 47 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. Three numbers summarize the problem: a 53.3% completion rate, $36,700 average 6-year earnings, and a 13.5-year payback period. Fewer than six in ten students who enroll at SFA finish. Median debt of $23,409 against $36,700 in earnings produces a 63.8% debt-to-earnings ratio, and the 3-year loan repayment rate of only 70.3% signals that a significant share of graduates struggle to make progress on their loans. Nursing is a bright spot (127 graduates, $74,683 year-one, B+ ROI), but it is surrounded by programs with weak outcomes and high dropout rates. The low net price ($14,260) moderates the damage somewhat for students who do complete, but at these completion rates, the total cost borne by non-completers is a material concern.
Stephen F Austin State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,128/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $23,426/yr |
| Average net price | $14,260/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $57,040 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,634 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,409 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $248 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,728 |
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: $11,128/year ($23,426/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $14,260/year, or roughly $57,040 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 $10,318/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,959/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,409, which works out to about $248 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,700) and comes to 0.64, 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 | $10,318 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,023 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,100 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,609 |
| $110,001+ | $22,959 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $10,318 net price per year at SFA - a low entry price that reflects the school's accessibility mission. The 38.9% Pell grant rate confirms a significant low-income enrollment. For students who complete a degree, especially in nursing or business, the math works at this price. But the 53.3% completion rate means nearly half of low-income students who borrow do not earn the credential they are paying for.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $13,100 net price; those earning $75,001-$110,000 pay $17,609. These are modest prices, but the institutional median payback of 13.5 years and a 70.3% loan repayment rate should give middle-income families pause. A student from a family earning $60,000 who pays $13,100 per year and completes nursing or CS will have a reasonable outcome. The median, however, is dragged by a large population of graduates in fields with weak near-term earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $22,959 per year, totaling about $91,836 over four years. High-income families who can access those options should do so. SFA at $23k per year makes the most sense for students who cannot access more selective options and who have a clear career plan in a strong-outcome program.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Stephen F Austin State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $50,052 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,250 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $61,686 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $84,107 | B+ |
| Psychology | $43,697 | D |
| Social Work | $50,754 | D |
| Family and Consumer Sciences | $44,600 | D |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $38,042 | F |
| Music | $52,341 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,302 | D |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is SFA's flagship ROI program: 127 graduates, $74,683 year-one, $84,107 year-four, ROI grade B+. Median debt of $25,125 against year-one earnings of nearly $75k yields a 0.336 debt-to-earnings ratio - the best at the institution. Texas nursing demand, combined with SFA's East Texas clinical network, produces reliable employment for graduates who complete the program. This is the clearest case for attending SFA.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is SFA's largest business program at 136 graduates, with $40,868 year-one and $61,686 year-four earnings and a C-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.612). Median debt of $25,000 against $40k starting salary is a stretched ratio. Business students who can access the Dallas-Fort Worth metro for employment will see better outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences has 46 graduates with $49,445 year-one and $75,271 year-four earnings, ROI grade C+. Median debt of $25,000 against $49k year-one earnings produces a 0.506 ratio - workable but not comfortable.
Fine and Studio Arts
Fine and Studio Arts is SFA's lowest-performing tracked program: 69 graduates, $25,362 year-one, $38,042 year-four, ROI grade F, debt-to-earnings ratio 1.025. Graduates owe more than a year's salary in debt at the point of measurement. Median debt of $26,000 compares with year-one earnings of $25,362.
Psychology
Psychology has 102 graduates earning $30,424 at year one and $43,697 at year four, ROI grade D, debt-to-earnings 0.805. Students pursuing psychology at SFA with direct employment goals should investigate specific career paths carefully - the bachelor's-level labor market for psychology is constrained.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 63.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 58.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Stephen F Austin State University’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 | 94.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 8,728 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,694 |
A 94% acceptance rate means SFA accepts nearly everyone who applies. The low SAT and ACT floors indicate that many admitted students arrive with limited academic preparation, which directly explains the 53.3% completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
SFA's nursing outcomes are strong.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen F Austin State University (this school) | 47 | $14,260 | $49,634 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| University of Toledo | 48 | $17,249 | $50,632 |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | 48 | $15,225 | $51,865 |
| Marshall University | 46 | $7,502 | $46,354 |
| University of Maine | 43 | $17,510 | $48,653 |
Who Thrives Here
SFA admits 93.9% of applicants, making it effectively open access for most Texas residents. SAT ranges are modest (470-570 Math, 500-600 Reading; ACT 18-24), and the student body of 8,728 leans toward regional students from East Texas. Students who arrive with a nursing, business, or forestry career plan and the academic preparation to complete will find decent outcomes relative to the low cost. Students who arrive underprepared, undecided, or entering the arts, social science, or communications tracks face a difficult combination of weak outcomes and a high dropout rate that amplifies the financial risk.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Stephen F Austin State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $14,260 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $49,634 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 13.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 70.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $23,409 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Stephen F Austin State University: Common Questions
Is Stephen F Austin State University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Stephen F Austin State University scores 47/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,260 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $49,634 ten years after entry, so it takes about 13.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Stephen F Austin State University 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 $14,260 a year, or roughly $57,040 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 Stephen F Austin State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $49,634 ten years after enrolling, roughly $7,834 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 Stephen F Austin State University?
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 13.5 years for Stephen F Austin State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Stephen F Austin State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,409, against average earnings of $36,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Stephen F Austin State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 53.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.