Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas · Public · 88.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 48/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) scores 48 - Below Average Value. The numbers split sharply by sub-score. Earnings premium is solid at 61 (27.7% wage lift), and the payback period of 11.9 years is competitive. Median earnings of $39,100 at six years and $51,865 at ten years against $23,000 median debt produce a 0.588 debt-to-earnings ratio. In-state tuition is $9,748, net price $15,225, four-year cost $60,900 - on the affordable end for a Texas public regional comprehensive. The clear drag is persistence: completion is just 40.2% (sub-score 22) and three-year repayment is 66.8% (sub-score 32). Pell rate of 42.9% indicates a substantial first-generation student body, and the access mission shows in those numbers. The standout strengths are the nursing program (218 graduates - huge cohort, B+ ROI grade with $71K starting earnings) and the engineering programs. Where TAMUCC excels: high-ROI career-track programs in nursing, engineering, and computer/information sciences. Where it struggles: students who arrive without clear career plans and end up in lower-ROI majors with persistence challenges.
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,748/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,794/yr |
| Average net price | $15,225/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $60,900 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,865 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 40.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,034 |
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: $9,748/year ($20,794/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,225/year, or roughly $60,900 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 $11,445/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,426/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $23,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $51,865 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.59, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $11,445 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,961 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,180 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,479 |
| $110,001+ | $23,426 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $11,445 net - well below the $15,225 average. Four-year cost is around $45,800, against $51,865 in 10-year median earnings. The math works for low-income Texas students, especially in nursing and engineering. Pell stacking on already-low Texas tuition makes this a defensible public option.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $14,180 net, four-year cost roughly $56,700. Still slightly under the $51,865 10-year earnings figure when discounted. Brackets march cleanly upward; the math remains workable for working- and middle-class Texas families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $19,479; above $110,000 net price hits $23,426 - still well under the $20,794 out-of-state sticker (and reasonable for in-state). Four-year cost at the top tier is roughly $93,700. Even at the highest bracket TAMUCC remains affordable for an in-state Texas student.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $83,329 | B+ |
| Biology | $50,181 | D |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $52,078 | C+ |
| Psychology | $43,269 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $50,896 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,808 | C+ |
| Accounting | $60,160 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $50,369 | C |
| Marketing | $62,017 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $42,921 | 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
Nursing is TAMUCC's largest professional program: 218 graduates - one of the highest nursing cohorts in our dataset - earning $71,760 in year one and $83,329 by year four against $25,000 debt (0.348 ratio, B+ grade). South Texas healthcare systems (Driscoll Children's, Christus Spohn, Bay Area) absorb the cohort. A reliable high-ROI pipeline.
Biology
Biology is the largest single program at 177 graduates - but earnings disappoint. $26,114 in year one rising to $50,181 by year four against $25,000 debt produces a 0.957 ratio and D grade. The TAMUCC location supports marine-biology, but bachelor's-only outcomes follow the national biology pattern: students need to continue to medical, dental, PA, or graduate school to capture real value.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies produces 151 graduates earning $50,040 in year one and $52,078 by year four against $24,816 debt (0.496 ratio, C+ grade). This is typically a degree-completion track for adult learners and transfer students. Solid first-year earnings reflect graduates entering established careers rather than entry-level roles.
Psychology
Psychology produces 121 graduates earning $28,557 in year one and $43,269 by year four against $24,000 debt (0.840 ratio, D grade). National psychology bachelor's earnings are weak; TAMUCC tracks that pattern. Students should plan for graduate school to capture real career value.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering produces 54 graduates earning $66,404 in year one and $82,322 by year four against $28,500 debt (0.429 ratio, B grade). Strong Texas Gulf Coast process-industry, energy, and aerospace demand drives the outcomes. Solid mid-tier engineering ROI; not as strong as Lamar's chemical-engineering pipeline but reliable.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 63.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi’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 | 88.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-583 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-25 |
| Enrollment | 8,034 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,497 |
TAMUCC admits 88.6% of applicants - broadly accessible. SAT mid-ranges (Math 470-583, Reading 500-610) and ACT 19-25 reflect a typical mid-tier Texas-public academic profile. The 40.2% completion rate is the concerning number: high admit rates plus modest entering scores plus a high-Pell first-generation cohort create persistence challenges. Prepared applicants face nearly automatic admission; the harder question is finishing.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
TAMUCC's peers are well-chosen Texas and regional publics: Angelo State (TX), Texas A&M-Texarkana, Murray State (KY), Toledo (OH), Alaska Anchorage. Within the Texas A&M system, A&M-Texarkana is a direct comparator with similar mission and scale. Angelo State tends to score similarly. Murray State and Toledo are out-of-state peer comprehensives. Against this band TAMUCC sits mid-pack; its nursing and engineering programs differentiate it positively while its broader persistence numbers track the regional-public average.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi (this school) | 48 | $15,225 | $51,865 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| Murray State University | 48 | $9,096 | $44,737 |
| University of Toledo | 48 | $17,249 | $50,632 |
| Texas A&M University-Texarkana | 36 | $12,997 | $45,515 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
TAMUCC fits Coastal Bend and South Texas students - especially future nurses, engineers, marine scientists, and business professionals. Pell rate of 42.9% indicates a substantial first-generation cohort. Enrollment of 8,034 supports comprehensive program selection. The Coastal Bend location is meaningful: the school has a strong marine sciences identity and natural-resources conservation programs unique to the Gulf Coast. Strongest fit: students with clear career plans in nursing, engineering, or marine/coastal sciences. Weaker fit: humanities and general-studies students.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $15,225 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $51,865 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.9 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 40.2% graduation rate, concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $23,000 against $51,865 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.