The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, Texas · Public · 94.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 67/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UT Permian Basin scores 67 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The earnings story is solid - $44,800 median six-year earnings on a $12,723 net price - but completion is the central problem: only 39.7% of enrolled students graduate, placing the completion sub-score at just 20 out of 100. Fewer than 2 in 5 students who enroll finish their degree, a figure that fundamentally limits the institution's overall ROI. The 9.1-year payback period reflects that drag. Median debt is $17,750 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.396 - workable for graduates, but the 26.8% of borrowers who are not making progress on repayment at 3 years signals real hardship downstream. The program mix is shaped by UTPB's geography in the Permian Basin oil region: Petroleum Engineering (25 graduates, $61,299 year-one, B grade) and Mechanical Engineering (42 graduates, $65,167 year-one, B+ grade) are the high-wage anchors. Registered Nursing (43 graduates) achieves A-grade ROI with $71,681 year-one earnings and $13,954 median debt. Business Administration is the largest program at 88 graduates but earns only a C+ grade. For students in STEM and health fields who complete, UTPB delivers genuine value. The university's most pressing accountability gap is the 60% of enrolled students who never collect that value.
The data raises concerns about The University of Texas Permian Basin
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate39.7% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
The University of Texas Permian Basin
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,236/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,504/yr |
| Average net price | $12,723/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $50,892 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,073 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $188 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,911 |
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: $9,236/year ($21,504/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 $12,723/year, or roughly $50,892 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 $11,930/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,810/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $17,750 in federal loans, which works out to about $188 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $56,073 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.40, 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 | $11,930 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,491 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,823 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,294 |
| $110,001+ | $17,810 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $11,930 per year at UTPB - substantially higher than peer open-access Texas institutions like Angelo State. The 30001-48000 bracket actually drops to $10,491, the lowest on the income schedule. For low-income students, the net price is higher than expected given the public tuition of $9,236, suggesting that aid packages at this institution do not fully cover indirect costs. A four-year total of roughly $42,000 at the bottom bracket is a real commitment for students without family resources.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $12,823 per year and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $13,294 - both above the 0-30000 tier, reflecting the step-down in need-based aid. Middle-income families face a total four-year cost of approximately $51,000-53,000. Against $44,800 median six-year earnings and a 9.1-year payback period, the value case for middle-income families depends almost entirely on program choice. Nursing and engineering students have a clear positive ROI; students in social sciences and business face a longer payback horizon.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001 and above pay $17,810 per year - the highest net price bracket. At this level, UTPB's total cost approaches $71,000 for four years. The payback period of 9.1 years against $44,800 median earnings is unattractive at full price. Higher-income families considering UTPB are likely doing so for geographic or program-specific reasons. The engineering and nursing programs remain financially rational at this price point; general business or liberal arts do not.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at The University of Texas Permian Basin with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $46,009 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $51,109 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $71,681 | A |
| Mechanical Engineering | $65,167 | B+ |
| Petroleum Engineering | $61,299 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,805 | C+ |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $53,109 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing delivers A-grade ROI at UTPB: 43 graduates, $71,681 median year-one earnings, $13,954 median debt, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.195. Four-year earnings data is not reported by Scorecard for this program. The Permian Basin healthcare market is in sustained growth, and graduates enter a labor market with strong demand. Monthly payments on $13,954 debt run roughly $148 - easily serviceable against a $71k first-year salary. This is the strongest single program at the institution by ROI grade.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (42 graduates) earns $65,167 at year one with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.288 (B+ grade). Four-year earnings are not reported in Scorecard data. The Permian Basin economy creates natural placement opportunities for mechanical engineers in energy sector operations. Median debt of $18,750 is manageable against a $65k starting salary. This program, alongside Petroleum Engineering, gives UTPB a regionally credible STEM anchor and the two engineering programs together account for 67 graduates annually.
Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering (25 graduates) earns $61,299 at year one with median debt of $24,500 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.400 (B grade). Four-year earnings are not reported in Scorecard data. The proximity to one of the most productive oil-producing regions in the country gives this program a direct pipeline to employment. The debt load is higher than the nursing or mechanical engineering programs, but against $61k year-one earnings, it is manageable. Petroleum engineering is a cyclical field; graduates should consider energy market volatility in long-run planning.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is UTPB's largest program at 88 graduates, with $51,109 median year-one earnings and a C+ ROI grade. Median debt of $23,875 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.467. Four-year earnings data is not reported by Scorecard. The C+ grade reflects adequate but not strong return on a net price that runs $12,723 per year. Students choosing Business at UTPB should recognize that the earnings trajectory will depend heavily on industry sector and regional job market conditions in West Texas.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How The University of Texas Permian Basin’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 | 94.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 440-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 470-570 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-23 |
| Enrollment | 3,911 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,381 |
At 94.9%, UTPB's admission rate makes it effectively open-access. The SAT Math 440-560 and Reading 470-570 ranges and ACT 17-23 composite describe a student body that spans a wide range of academic preparation. Test scores are not a meaningful barrier here. The more consequential filter is persistence: with only 39.7% of students graduating, UTPB's completion data is the most important number for prospective students to evaluate. Strong motivation and a clear program-to-career connection are more predictive of outcomes than academic credentials at this institution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UTPB (ROI 67) sits in the Fair Value tier alongside regional Texas peers. Angelo State is a named peer school with a broadly similar profile - open-access, energy-region focused, with moderate completion rates. Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Colorado State Pueblo are also named peers, both operating in a similar ROI range. UTPB's earnings premium sub-score of 83 is solid, indicating graduates who finish earn meaningfully above the cost of attendance. The completion score of 20 is the outlier that pulls the overall score down significantly. Among West Texas regional universities, UTPB's STEM programs are a genuine asset; the institution's challenge is retaining more of the students who enroll.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas Permian Basin (this school) | 67 | $12,723 | $56,073 |
| University of Arkansas Grantham | 69 | $8,370 | $63,496 |
| University of Hawaii-West Oahu | 67 | $10,327 | $52,075 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | 64 | $10,051 | $55,563 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | 48 | $15,225 | $51,865 |
Who Thrives Here
UTPB admits 94.9% of applicants, operating close to open-access. SAT mid-ranges are 440-560 Math and 470-570 Reading; ACT composite runs 17-23, indicating a broad academic preparation range. Enrollment is 3,911 undergraduates, with 38.7% receiving Pell grants. The student body draws heavily from the Permian Basin region, including working adults connected to the energy industry. Students seeking engineering or nursing degrees tied to the regional economy have natural pathways here. Students choosing softer majors - Psychology (129 graduates), Business (88 graduates) - face a more difficult ROI case given the high net price relative to expected near-term earnings in this region.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
The University of Texas Permian Basin is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $12,723 a year after aid ($50,892 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $56,073 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 39.7% graduation rate.
Median debt of $17,750 against $56,073 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.