Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Schools are assigned a value from 1-100, where 100 is best for students from households earning up to $30,000. This value is multiplied by the percentage of the school’s student body that received a Pell Grant, to calculate the economic mobility score. A higher score is better. Read the full explanation
The percentage of a school’s student body that has received a Pell Grant.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Rice University ranked first and The University of Texas at Austin ranked second for the best colleges in Texas.
The Lonestar State is home to 299 colleges and universities, the most of any U.S. state. Students here can expect to eat well considering Texas is known for their brisket, barbeque, and Mexican cuisine.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$15,091
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$89,718
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate94%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$18,850
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$75,121
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate85%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,601
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$56,073
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate51%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$4,778
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$48,386
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate54%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$16,987
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$68,227
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate72%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$20,257
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$72,097
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate83%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$13,900
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$62,377
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate65%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$14,244
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$63,199
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate57%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$10,928
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$56,544
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate59%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$23,567
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$71,668
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate79%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$10,464
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$55,747
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate53%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$7,007
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$49,620
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate55%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$12,911
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$57,131
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate56%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$13,381
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$57,053
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate56%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$17,774
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$59,004
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate69%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$15,205
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$57,010
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate61%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$40,849
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$78,354
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate80%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$10,923
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$54,338
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate71%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$14,840
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$56,906
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate62%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$20,048
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$62,454
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate66%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
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Average income based on education level
The average salaries in Texas at each education level are listed below. These figures come from College Scorecard, a Department of Education initiative to make education data more accessible to the public, and IPEDS.
Average Income
The average income of people in this state with a high-school diploma, certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree, 10 years after enrollment, based on 2021-2022 CSC data.
HS Diploma$36,217
Certificate$36,600
Associate$44,751
Bachelor$57,735
Master$68,009
Cost of attending college in Texas
In-state-tuition$17,573
The average in-state tuition, before financial aid, of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.
Out-of-state-tuition$21,753
The average tuition for out-of-state students, before financial aid of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.
Most popular degrees in Texas
In Texas, the most popular degrees are Manufacturing Engineering, Cognitive Science, and Special Education. By most popular, me mean that these programs have the most graduates annually (bachelor’s and master’s level) in the state of Texas. Data comes from IPEDS and College Scorecard.
Popular degrees
1Business Administration 17,014graduates
2Registered Nursing 15,025graduates
3General Psychology 8,542graduates
4Biology 7,948graduates
5Health & Fitness 6,356graduates
6Accounting 6,061graduates
7Criminal Justice 5,453graduates
8Computer and Information Sciences 5,322graduates
9Finance 4,660graduates
10Marketing 3,871graduates
Fastest growing careers
Texas job growth
18.3%
Nurse Practitioners
66%
Statisticians
51.6%
Information Security Analysts
49.5%
Occupational Therapy Assistants
46.9%
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
46.9%
Physical Therapist Assistants
44.6%
Medical and Health Services Managers
42.9%
Physician Assistants
41.4%
Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
40.5%
Orthotists and Prosthetists
40.2%
Best bachelor’s degrees in Texas
These majors are most likely to pay off economically after graduation.
Program NamesEconomic Score
1Manufacturing Engineering 0.65
2Cognitive Science 1.03
3Special Education 1.08
4Law. 1.1
5Pharmaceutical Sciences 1.22
6Chemical Engineering 1.23
7Industrial Engineering 1.28
8Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection 1.35
Higher ed is supposed to act as an economic elevator that lifts students from low-income households into the middle class. But not all colleges do this: unfortunately, many of the nation’s most “prestigious” schools accept very few students from low-income backgrounds.
To determine what colleges are doing the best job at lifting students out of poverty, we have devised a Social Mobility Index (SMI).
The best colleges for social mobility in New York are shown below.
Bachelor's degree holders or higher
31%
Filters
Texas
18.3%
