College Station, TX · Private University
Is Texas A&M University Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$72,097
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$13,099
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$40,328
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$161,312
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.79x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
4.3 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
83.8%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$17,804
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$20,924
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Texas A&M University-College Station graduates earn $27,097 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Texas A&M University-College Station ranked by graduate earnings
102 graduates
144 graduates
104 graduates
22 graduates
96 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Texas A&M University-College Station
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Texas A&M University-College Station, the gap between the highest-earning major (Petroleum Engineering: $123,170) and the lowest (Maritime Studies: $32,325) is $90,845/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum EngineeringBest ROI | $123,170 | 3.0x |
| Chemical Engineering | $105,292 | 2.6x |
| Computer Engineering | $104,901 | 2.6x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $101,263 | 2.5x |
| Marine Transportation | $100,933 | 2.5x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $98,879 | 2.5x |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $91,097 | 2.3x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $90,976 | 2.3x |
| Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering | $89,344 | 2.2x |
| Industrial Engineering | $88,458 | 2.2x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $87,290 | 2.2x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $86,346 | 2.1x |
| Computer Science(1yr data) | $86,084 | 2.1x |
| Ocean Engineering | $85,953 | 2.1x |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $85,253 | 2.1x |
| Nuclear Engineering | $84,928 | 2.1x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $84,502 | 2.1x |
| Civil Engineering | $82,035 | 2.0x |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $76,028 | 1.9x |
| Applied Mathematics | $74,198 | 1.8x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $73,138 | 1.8x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $72,981 | 1.8x |
| Agricultural Engineering | $71,893 | 1.8x |
| Management Information Systems and Services(1yr data) | $71,032 | 1.8x |
| Economics | $70,306 | 1.7x |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $68,921 | 1.7x |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians(1yr data) | $68,154 | 1.7x |
| Landscape Architecture | $67,119 | 1.7x |
| Chemistry | $66,584 | 1.6x |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations(1yr data) | $66,372 | 1.6x |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $65,587 | 1.6x |
| Geography and Cartography | $64,337 | 1.6x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $63,533 | 1.6x |
| Marketing | $61,801 | 1.5x |
| Architecture | $60,257 | 1.5x |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $59,917 | 1.5x |
| Security Science and Technology | $59,784 | 1.5x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $58,824 | 1.5x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $58,417 | 1.4x |
| Political Science and Government | $58,382 | 1.4x |
| Agriculture, General | $56,790 | 1.4x |
| City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | $55,046 | 1.4x |
| Mathematics | $54,791 | 1.4x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $54,656 | 1.4x |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $53,791 | 1.3x |
| Physics(1yr data) | $53,329 | 1.3x |
| Biology, General | $53,216 | 1.3x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $52,783 | 1.3x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $52,572 | 1.3x |
| Genetics | $52,557 | 1.3x |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $52,454 | 1.3x |
| History | $51,887 | 1.3x |
| International/Global Studies | $51,717 | 1.3x |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $51,147 | 1.3x |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $50,964 | 1.3x |
| Animal Sciences | $50,777 | 1.3x |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $49,595 | 1.2x |
| Philosophy | $49,447 | 1.2x |
| Agricultural Public Services | $49,429 | 1.2x |
| Psychology, General | $47,558 | 1.2x |
| Sociology | $47,367 | 1.2x |
| Plant Sciences(1yr data) | $45,163 | 1.1x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $44,310 | 1.1x |
| Natural Resources Management and Policy | $44,003 | 1.1x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $42,963 | 1.1x |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(1yr data) | $41,107 | 1.0x |
| Nutrition Sciences(1yr data) | $40,504 | 1.0x |
| Forestry(1yr data) | $40,314 | 1.0x |
| Public Health(1yr data) | $39,584 | 1.0x |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $39,379 | 1.0x |
| Hospitality Administration/Management(1yr data) | $37,743 | 0.9x |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General(1yr data) | $37,331 | 0.9x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $36,746 | 0.9x |
| Anthropology | $36,427 | 0.9x |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions(1yr data) | $34,671 | 0.9x |
| Maritime StudiesLowest(1yr data) | $32,325 | 0.8x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University-College Station | 1.79x | $72,097 | Good ROI |
| University of Houston | 2.81x | $62,377 | Strong ROI |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 2.14x | $61,251 | Strong ROI |
| Texas Tech University | 2.55x | $62,454 | Strong ROI |
| Auburn University | 1.93x | $65,337 | Good ROI |
| The University of Alabama | 1.78x | $59,221 | Good ROI |
The Bottom Line
Texas A&M University-College Station offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $72,097 10 years after starting — $27,097 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 4.3 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.