Texas A&M University-College Station
College Station, Texas · Public · 57.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 89/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Texas A&M University-College Station scores 89 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. The 6.1-year payback period, 83.9% completion rate, and 88.5% repayment rate at year three define a financially functional institution at scale. Average 6-year earnings are $53,600 against a net price of $21,315. The engineering breadth is exceptional: Computer Engineering (163 graduates, $86,366 year-one, $127,042 year-four, A), Chemical Engineering (234 graduates, $86,176 year-one, A), Computer Science (392 graduates, $86,084 year-one, A) all earn A grades with debt-to-earnings ratios well below 0.30. Finance (308 graduates, A grade, $112,319 year-four), Accounting (298 graduates, B+), and Business Administration (472 graduates, B+) form a strong business pillar. With 59,615 enrolled students, A&M's scale creates both advantages in career networks and research funding and potential disadvantages in student-to-faculty access.
Texas A&M University-College Station scores in the top 6% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Texas A&M University-College Station
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,154/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,124/yr |
| Average net price | $21,315/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $85,260 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $72,097 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $53,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,804 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $189 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 83.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 59,615 |
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: $13,154/year ($40,124/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 $21,315/year, or roughly $85,260 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 $12,784/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,660/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,804, which works out to about $189 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($53,600) and comes to 0.33, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $12,784 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,317 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,435 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,520 |
| $110,001+ | $30,660 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $12,784 net price per year. Total 4-year cost near $51,000 for the lowest-income bracket is reasonable given the earnings data from STEM and business programs. The 83.9% completion rate is the key variable - low-income students who complete earn the same credential as any other graduate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $17,435 per year and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $26,520 - a meaningful step up. Middle-income families face total 4-year costs between $70,000 and $106,000. For students entering engineering or CS, these costs pay back in 3-4 years from graduation based on program earnings. For students in business, the payback is slightly longer but still defensible. The wide gap between the two middle brackets suggests the aid formula creates a significant affordability cliff for families just above $75,000.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $30,660 per year - approximately $122,640 over four years. At $53,600 average 6-year earnings and a 6.1-year payback period, A&M's full-pay investment case is strong. Engineering graduates who pay full price still earn their degree cost back in under 3 years on CS and chemical engineering earnings. The Aggie brand provides genuine network value that extends well beyond what Scorecard 6-year earnings capture.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Texas A&M University-College Station with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $61,734 | C |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $58,697 | B |
| Psychology | $58,396 | C |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $77,479 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $82,213 | B+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $97,903 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $62,888 | C |
| Computer Science | $124,283 | A |
| Communication and Media Studies | $64,533 | B |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $69,815 | B |
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.
Computer Science
392 graduates, $86,084 year-one, $124,283 year-four, ROI grade A with debt-to-earnings 0.235 and median debt $20,187. CS at A&M is a high-volume program with top earnings and debt that is trivial relative to income. Year-four earnings are $124k. The Austin-Dallas-Houston tech corridor absorbs large cohorts of Texas CS graduates annually. At in-state cost, this program represents an exceptional combination of access and outcome.
Chemical Engineering
234 graduates, $86,176 year-one, $111,073 year-four, ROI grade A with debt-to-earnings 0.210 and median debt $18,135. Chemical engineering at A&M feeds directly into Texas's petrochemical, refinery, and energy sector. The A grade reflects both high earnings and the lowest median debt-to-earnings ratio of any major engineering program here. Graduates entering the Gulf Coast energy sector early in their careers outperform the national ChE median.
Finance and Financial Management
308 graduates, $71,409 year-one, $112,319 year-four, ROI grade A with debt-to-earnings 0.236 and median debt $16,880. Finance earns the A grade driven by very low median debt ($16,880) and strong four-year earnings trajectory. The year-one to four-year jump from $71k to $112k reflects the Houston and Dallas financial services hiring pipelines that A&M graduates access through the Mays Business School. Low debt is the differentiator here relative to finance programs at higher-cost institutions.
Mechanical Engineering
469 graduates, $77,785 year-one, $97,903 year-four, ROI grade B+ with debt-to-earnings 0.251 and median debt $19,500. Mechanical Engineering is the highest-volume engineering program at A&M. Year-one earnings of $77k and four-year of $97k reflect strong placement into aerospace, energy, defense, and manufacturing. At $19,500 median debt and B+ grade, this program delivers consistent value at a large scale. The Aggie engineering network creates recruiting pipelines with Texas employers that benefit all mechanical engineering graduates.
Agricultural Business and Management
504 graduates - the highest enrollment program by volume - $50,509 year-one, $77,479 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.398 and median debt $20,125. Agricultural business reflects A&M's land-grant heritage. Year-four earnings of $77k are solid for an agricultural management track, and the B grade reflects adequate debt-to-earnings at moderate cost. Students in agribusiness, commodity trading, and food/agriculture corporate roles cite A&M's reputation and alumni network as career assets.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 88.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Texas A&M University-College Station’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 | 57.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-710 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-31 |
| Enrollment | 59,615 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,776 |
A 57.4% admission rate at this institution understates the de facto selectivity for competitive programs like engineering and CS, which have internal admission thresholds above the overall rate. ACT composite 25-31 is the parallel benchmark. The institution's size means admission is more accessible than the academic reputation might suggest, but program-specific admissions create a second screen.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University-College Station (this school) | 89 | $21,315 | $72,097 |
| Purdue University-Main Campus | 91 | $14,600 | $72,424 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 89 | $24,953 | $81,698 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 83 | $24,406 | $74,479 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | 48 | $15,225 | $51,865 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Texas A&M University-College Station side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Texas A&M admits 57.4% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 570-710 Math and 580-690 Reading; ACT composite 25-31. At nearly 60,000 enrolled students, the campus experience is large-university by design - students who thrive in that environment and can navigate a 100+ major catalog will find substantial resources. Students targeting engineering, business, agriculture, or STEM will find strong program depth.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Texas A&M University-College Station pays off. You'd pay about $21,315 a year after aid ($85,260 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $72,097 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.1 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 83.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $17,804 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $53,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, 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.
Texas A&M University-College Station: Common Questions
Is Texas A&M University-College Station worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Texas A&M University-College Station pays off. It scores 89/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $21,315 a year after aid ($85,260 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $72,097 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.1 years to earn back.
How much does Texas A&M University-College Station 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 $21,315 a year, or roughly $85,260 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 Texas A&M University-College Station graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $72,097 ten years after enrolling, roughly $30,297 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 Texas A&M University-College Station?
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 6.1 years for Texas A&M University-College Station. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Texas A&M University-College Station graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,804, against average earnings of $53,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33. 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 Texas A&M University-College Station?
The six-year graduation rate is 83.9%, 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.