Texas A&M University-San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas · Public · 92.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 60/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Texas A&M University-San Antonio earns a Fair Value ROI score of 60. Note the small net-price-over-tuition gap, which reflects fees, books, and indirect costs rather than the warning-sign pattern at for-profits. Ten-year median earnings of $54,338 produce a 43.2 percent earnings premium - solid for a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a 50.8 percent Pell rate. Median federal debt is moderate at $18,401, payback runs 9.6 years, and debt-to-earnings isn't reported (imputed at 50). Repayment rates aren't reported at any horizon, which dampens the overall score and limits the picture of how alumni service debt over time. Enrollment is 6,599. For South Texas students who pick business or MIS pathways and finish on time, TAMU-San Antonio delivers strong economic returns; the binding question is whether students complete the degree.
Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,654/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $23,255/yr |
| Average net price | $11,196/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $44,784 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,338 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,401 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $195 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 40.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,599 |
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: $9,654/year ($23,255/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 $11,196/year, or roughly $44,784 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 $9,596/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $13,021/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,401, which works out to about $195 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. We do not have the six-year earnings figure needed to work out a debt-to-earnings ratio for this school.
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 | $9,596 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,423 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,898 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,267 |
| $110,001+ | $13,021 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $9,596 net per year, about $38,400 over four. Pell ($7,395 max) plus state TEXAS Grant and TPEG aid often closes most of this gap, meaning low-income graduates typically borrow modestly. The completion rate is the binding risk: those who finish see strong ROI; those who do not still carry debt without the credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001 to $75,000 pay $12,898, about $51,600 over four years. Note the inverted high-income bracket: $75,001-$110,000 pays $16,267 while above $110,000 pays $13,021. This inversion is unusual and may reflect small sample size in the top bracket; affluent applicants should verify with the Texas net price calculator directly.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $13,021, which is anomalously lower than the $75,001-$110,000 bracket's $16,267. This inverted pattern almost certainly reflects small-sample volatility in Scorecard's reporting rather than a real progressive aid formula. Affluent families should run the Texas higher-ed price calculator linked on the school site for a more reliable figure.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Texas A&M University-San Antonio with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $54,006 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,786 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,218 | D |
| Biology | $45,920 | D |
| Psychology | $46,362 | C+ |
| Accounting | $60,376 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,856 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $56,787 | C+ |
| History | $50,062 | D |
| Sociology | $45,191 | C+ |
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.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies is the largest program by far with 288 graduates, frequently used as a pre-teaching pathway. One-year earnings of $48,239 and four-year of $54,006 reflect entry into elementary, bilingual, and special-ed teaching roles in South Texas districts. Median debt of $21,000 yields a 0.435 ratio and B grade. This is a clean teacher-prep value play; South Texas districts have chronic shortages that absorb these graduates quickly.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration produces 124 graduates with one-year earnings of $46,523 climbing to $63,786 by year four. Median debt of $24,250 yields a 0.521 ratio and C+ grade. San Antonio's business services, healthcare administration, and military-adjacent employer base hires these graduates reliably.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology produces 104 graduates, the second-largest cohort. One-year earnings of $32,708 climb to $55,218 by year four with $23,690 debt, yielding a 0.724 ratio and D grade. The pathway typically requires graduate work in PT, OT, or PA programs to reach professional wages. Students should plan for graduate school or pivot to corporate wellness and fitness management to recover the investment.
Biology
Biology graduates 85 students with one-year earnings of $29,981 climbing to $45,920 by year four. Median debt of $24,875 produces a 0.83 ratio and D grade. Biology BAs need medical, dental, PA, or research-track graduate programs to reach professional pay; for those who don't continue, the labor market is weak.
Psychology
Psychology produces 69 graduates with one-year earnings of $32,858 and four-year of $46,362, against $17,897 debt - a 0.545 ratio and C+ grade. Debt is well-controlled here relative to many psych programs because TAMU-SA's tuition is low. Earnings are modest but the financial structure is sustainable. Students planning graduate work in clinical or school psych are best positioned.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | N/A | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2017-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 92.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 410-530 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 430-540 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-21 |
| Enrollment | 6,599 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 50.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,625 |
TAMU-San Antonio admits 92.8 percent of applicants, signaling an access-mission orientation. SAT mid-range is roughly 840 to 1070 and ACT 15 to 21, suggesting many enrolled students are below college-readiness benchmarks coming in. The 40.2 percent completion rate is consistent with that academic preparation profile. Students who arrive at college-ready levels and use the academic support infrastructure tend to finish; those who don't, often don't.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University-San Antonio (this school) | 60 | $11,196 | $54,338 |
| Empire State University | 61 | $11,676 | $54,080 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | 61 | $13,369 | $52,528 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | 48 | $15,225 | $51,865 |
Who Thrives Here
TAMU-San Antonio fits South Texas and San Antonio metro students, including many first-generation and Latino learners, who want a four-year credential close to home with manageable cost. Enrollment of 6,599 supports cohort identity; the 50.8 percent Pell rate confirms heavily Pell-eligible enrollment. Strongest outcomes concentrate in business, MIS, and the large interdisciplinary studies track (often a teaching-bound pathway). Students who arrive academically prepared and commit to four-year completion see strong returns; the underlying completion challenge means students should plan for advising support from day one.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $11,196 a year after aid ($44,784 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $54,338 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 40.2% graduation rate.
Texas A&M University-San Antonio: Common Questions
Is Texas A&M University-San Antonio worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Texas A&M University-San Antonio is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 60/100 on our ROI scale. At $11,196 a year after aid ($44,784 over four years) against $54,338 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Texas A&M University-San Antonio 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 $11,196 a year, or roughly $44,784 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-San Antonio graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,338 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,538 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-San Antonio?
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 9.6 years for Texas A&M University-San Antonio. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
What is the graduation rate at Texas A&M University-San Antonio?
The six-year graduation rate is 40.2%. 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.
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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.