Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Kingsville, Texas · Public · 90.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 52/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Texas A&M University-Kingsville posts a 52 ROI score, falling into the Below Average Value tier. TAMUK is a midsize Hispanic-Serving Institution in South Texas with affordable in-state tuition of $9,892 and a $12,090 net price. Four-year total cost is $48,360. The score is held up by a 34 percent earnings premium (sub-score 74), $51,450 ten-year median earnings, and a respectable 11.5-year payback period. The drags are completion (41.9 percent) and repayment (just 63 percent making progress at three years, declining to 52 percent at five). Median debt is $22,934 with a 0.581 debt-to-earnings ratio. The program-level story is bifurcated and important: TAMUK's engineering programs are genuinely strong, with Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, and Architectural Engineering all earning B grades and producing graduates with $66,000-$98,000 in year-four earnings. Outside engineering, however, many cohorts struggle with F-grade outcomes (Animal Sciences, Communication, Communication Disorders). The right pathway here delivers strong value; other pathways deliver weaker value.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,892/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,746/yr |
| Average net price | $12,090/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $48,360 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,450 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,934 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $243 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 41.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,748 |
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: $9,892/year ($25,746/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 $12,090/year, or roughly $48,360 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 $10,207/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,553/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,934, which works out to about $243 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,500) and comes to 0.58, 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 | $10,207 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,960 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,700 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,325 |
| $110,001+ | $19,553 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $10,207. Four-year cost approaches $41,000 for low-income students, against $51,450 median earnings ten years out. The math works on paper, particularly for students in engineering tracks. The completion-rate risk is the bigger concern: a low-income student who does not finish carries $22,934 in median debt without a credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $10,960 (the $30,001 to $48,000 tier) to $12,700 (the $48,001 to $75,000 tier). Total four-year cost lands around $44,000 to $51,000. This is workable value for students who target engineering or accounting. The progression is normal (not inverted), which means aid does meaningful work at TAMUK for these brackets.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $19,553, with the $75,001 to $110,000 bracket at $15,325. The curve is normal. Four-year cost for the top bracket is approximately $78,000. Strong financial fit for high-income students targeting engineering.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Texas A&M University-Kingsville with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | $75,033 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,830 | B |
| Animal Sciences | $44,214 | F |
| Biology | $42,405 | D |
| Psychology | $45,020 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $56,170 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $49,907 | C |
| Music | $57,117 | C |
| Chemical Engineering | $97,811 | B |
| Political Science and Government | $40,965 | 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.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering is the largest engineering program with 65 graduates, earning B grade. First-year earnings of $66,429 grow to $75,033 by year four, with $24,625 in median debt and a 0.371 debt-to-earnings ratio. Strong pipeline into Texas DOT, municipal engineering, and South Texas energy infrastructure firms. This is a high-value engineering program.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering produces 64 graduates with B grade. First-year earnings of $56,135 climb to $88,830 by year four, with $21,678 in debt and a 0.386 debt-to-earnings ratio. The year-four earnings figure is exceptional, reflecting placement into Texas oil-and-gas, defense, and manufacturing.
Animal Sciences
Animal Sciences earns F with 49 graduates, the worst program-level outcome at TAMUK. First-year earnings of just $20,036 against $25,000 in median debt produce a 1.248 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning debt exceeds annual earnings by 25 percent. Year-four earnings of $44,214 show progression but the entry-level squeeze is severe. The program serves the ranching tradition of South Texas; students should consider whether the financial outcomes match their family situation.
Biology
Biology produces 46 graduates with D grade. First-year earnings of $27,493 against $25,281 in median debt yield a 0.92 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-four earnings of $42,405 show only modest progression. As a terminal bachelor's the math is uncomfortable; treated as pre-medical or pre-graduate-school the financial picture changes substantially with the eventual professional credential.
Psychology
Psychology shows 45 graduates with D grade. First-year earnings of $33,220 against $25,800 debt produce a 0.777 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-four earnings of $45,020 show progression but remain modest. Same caveat: this is a graduate-school-dependent major. Students who plan to stop at the bachelor's level should reconsider; those committed to clinical, school, or industrial-organizational psychology graduate programs have a clearer path.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 56.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 52.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 58.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Texas A&M University-Kingsville’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 | 90.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-550 |
| Enrollment | 4,748 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 52.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,761 |
TAMUK admits 90.9 percent of applicants. SAT mid-range is 480 to 560 math and 510 to 550 reading; ACT mid-ranges are not reported. The narrow SAT bands suggest a relatively concentrated admit pool. The 41.9 percent completion rate signals significant retention challenges, particularly among first-generation and Pell-eligible students who make up a meaningful share of the population.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville (this school) | 52 | $12,090 | $51,450 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
| Washburn University | 51 | $15,280 | $49,774 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | 48 | $15,225 | $51,865 |
Who Thrives Here
TAMUK fits a South Texas student aiming at engineering, particularly Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering. Pell rate is 52.7 percent, signaling a heavily need-tested student body. Enrollment is 4,748. The Hispanic-Serving designation creates real pipelines into Texas oil-and-gas, defense, and infrastructure-engineering firms actively recruiting Latina/Latino engineering talent.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Texas A&M University-Kingsville is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $12,090 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $51,450 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.5 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: its 41.9% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 63.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $22,934 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, 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-Kingsville: Common Questions
Is Texas A&M University-Kingsville worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Texas A&M University-Kingsville scores 52/100 on our ROI scale. At $12,090 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $51,450 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Texas A&M University-Kingsville 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 $12,090 a year, or roughly $48,360 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-Kingsville graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $51,450 ten years after enrolling, roughly $9,650 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-Kingsville?
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 11.5 years for Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Texas A&M University-Kingsville graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,934, against average earnings of $39,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58. 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-Kingsville?
The six-year graduation rate is 41.9%. 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.