Texas A&M University-College Station
Texas A&M University-College Station — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Texas A&M University-College Station at a Glance
Texas A&M University is a public land-grant research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System in 1948. Since 2021, Texas A&M has enrolled the largest student body in the United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and since 2001 has been a member of the Association of American Universities.
1876
150 years old
$19.1B
$19.11 billion ( FY 2024) (Texas A&M only) $20.38 billion (FY2024) (system-wide)
81,354
61,442 undergrad · 12,140 grad
4,300
5,200 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Texas A&M University-College Station
Official admissions pageTesting policy
Is Texas A&M University-College Station Worth It?
Texas A&M University-College Station delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $21,315/year, it's priced 5% above average, while graduates go on to earn $72,097 — 34% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 84% graduation rate means roughly 16% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: Texas A&M University-College Station delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Texas A&M University-College Station compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #2 of 5 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #2 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 71 | $21,315 | $72,097 |
| #3 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 53 | $22,811 | $62,177 |
| #4 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 41 | $32,875 | $63,435 |
| #5 | University of Maryland Global Campus | 23 | $22,063 | $65,287 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Texas A&M University-College Station's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Texas A&M University-College Station
The highest-earning program at Texas A&M University-College Station is Petroleum Engineering at $81,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Anthropology at $19,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Petroleum Engineering graduate from Texas A&M University-College Station earns $81,800, while a Anthropology graduate earns $19,500. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Petroleum Engineering graduates carry $18,500 in median debt vs. $17,500 for Anthropology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $21,315/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineering | $81,800 | $81,800 | $18,500 |
| Chemical Engineering | $79,900 | $79,900 | $16,285 |
| Marine Transportation | $74,300 | $74,300 | $23,517 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $73,200 | $73,200 | $21,395 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $71,600 | $71,600 | $19,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $71,200 | $71,200 | $22,945 |
| Computer Engineering | $70,900 | $70,900 | $21,500 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $69,500 | $69,500 | $14,232 |
| Information Science/Studies | $69,300 | $69,300 | $14,641 |
| Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering | $69,100 | $69,100 | $26,148 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $67,800 | $67,800 | $12,500 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $66,200 | $66,200 | $20,274 |
| Civil Engineering | $64,500 | $64,500 | $16,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $64,200 | $64,200 | $21,000 |
| Industrial Engineering | $63,700 | $63,700 | $20,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $63,000 | $63,000 | $19,820 |
| Ocean Engineering | $61,200 | $61,200 | $22,204 |
| Engineering Technology, General | $60,100 | $60,100 | $24,499 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $59,400 | $59,400 | $17,582 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | $58,200 | $58,200 | $20,817 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $55,900 | $55,900 | $16,837 |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $53,600 | $53,600 | $23,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $53,100 | $53,100 | $19,525 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $53,000 | $53,000 | $14,233 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $51,500 | $51,500 | $18,125 |
| Mathematics | $50,900 | $50,900 | $24,209 |
| Applied Mathematics | $50,600 | $50,600 | $18,990 |
| Marketing | $47,400 | $47,400 | $15,000 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $47,200 | $47,200 | $19,562 |
| Economics | $46,000 | $46,000 | $15,000 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $45,800 | $45,800 | $22,250 |
| Landscape Architecture | $45,500 | $45,500 | $30,270 |
| Agriculture, General | $43,500 | $43,500 | $17,397 |
| Architecture | $42,600 | $42,600 | $18,875 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $42,300 | $42,300 | $19,324 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $42,100 | $42,100 | $16,472 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $42,100 | $42,100 | $15,500 |
| Chemistry | $42,100 | $42,100 | $24,766 |
| Food Science and Technology | $41,700 | $41,700 | $17,510 |
| Geography and Cartography | $38,900 | $38,900 | $19,000 |
| City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | $38,400 | $38,400 | $19,657 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $38,400 | $38,400 | $18,750 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $38,300 | $38,300 | $19,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $38,100 | $38,100 | $17,249 |
| Political Science and Government | $37,600 | $37,600 | $17,880 |
| Natural Resources Management and Policy | $37,400 | $37,400 | $21,381 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $37,000 | $37,000 | $19,500 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $36,400 | $36,400 | $17,435 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $36,200 | $36,200 | $16,750 |
| International/Global Studies | $34,800 | $34,800 | $17,500 |
| Agricultural Public Services | $34,100 | $34,100 | $17,850 |
| Animal Sciences | $33,700 | $33,700 | $17,707 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $33,700 | $33,700 | $17,655 |
| History | $33,700 | $33,700 | $19,500 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $33,000 | $33,000 | $19,500 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $32,900 | $32,900 | N/A |
| Sociology | $32,200 | $32,200 | $18,750 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $30,400 | $30,400 | $17,000 |
| Psychology, General | $29,900 | $29,900 | $17,149 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $27,500 | $27,500 | $19,452 |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $25,000 | $25,000 | $23,120 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $25,000 | $25,000 | $21,500 |
| Biology, General | $24,800 | $24,800 | $17,472 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $22,200 | $22,200 | $15,875 |
| Anthropology | $19,500 | $19,500 | $17,500 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- College Station, TX
- Student Body
- 59,615 students
- Admission Rate
- 57%
- Graduation Rate
- 84%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $21,315
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $72,097
- Median Student Debt
- $17,804