Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Texas Tech University at a Glance
Texas Tech University is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established in 1923 and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University System. As of fall 2025, the university enrolled 42,455 students, making it the sixth-largest university in Texas.
1923
103 years old
$2.4B
$2.44 billion ( FY 2025) (TTU only) $3.35 billion (FY2025) (system-wide)
40,000
34,184 undergrad · 8,271 grad
2,131
1,800 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Texas Tech University
Official admissions page$75
Fee waiver available
3 required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Fee waiver
Is Texas Tech University Worth It?
Texas Tech University offers moderate value at $19,070/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $62,454, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 68% graduation rate means roughly 32% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Texas Tech University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #19 of 32 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 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | Florida Atlantic University | 100 | $8,752 | $56,746 |
| #3 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #4 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #5 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #6 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 78 | $15,300 | $63,126 |
| #19 | Texas Tech University | 56 | $19,070 | $62,454 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Texas Tech University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in TX.
Best Programs at Texas Tech University
The highest-earning program at Texas Tech University is Petroleum Engineering at $74,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Natural Resources Conservation and Research at $24,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Petroleum Engineering graduate from Texas Tech University earns $74,200, while a Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduate earns $24,700. 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 $31,000 in median debt vs. $21,000 for Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $19,070/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 | $74,200 | $74,200 | $31,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $71,700 | $71,700 | $28,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $71,300 | $71,300 | $28,976 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $69,900 | $69,900 | $27,263 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $68,000 | $68,000 | $23,500 |
| Construction Engineering | $65,900 | $65,900 | $25,486 |
| Industrial Engineering | $63,100 | $63,100 | $26,213 |
| Science, Technology and Society | $63,000 | $63,000 | $22,777 |
| Civil Engineering | $62,900 | $62,900 | $25,875 |
| Information Science/Studies | $62,600 | $62,600 | $25,773 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $57,400 | $57,400 | $19,896 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $50,800 | $50,800 | $22,750 |
| Marketing | $48,000 | $48,000 | $21,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $45,900 | $45,900 | $20,500 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $44,600 | $44,600 | $28,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $44,100 | $44,100 | $23,016 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $43,100 | $43,100 | $21,500 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $41,700 | $41,700 | $19,921 |
| Mathematics | $41,600 | $41,600 | $24,155 |
| Music | $41,400 | $41,400 | $27,000 |
| Economics | $40,800 | $40,800 | $25,125 |
| Interior Architecture | $38,800 | $38,800 | $27,000 |
| Agriculture, General | $38,700 | $38,700 | $22,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $37,600 | $37,600 | $26,601 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $36,900 | $36,900 | $24,125 |
| History | $36,800 | $36,800 | $23,175 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $35,800 | $35,800 | $22,901 |
| Social Work | $35,700 | $35,700 | $26,250 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $34,600 | $34,600 | $24,990 |
| Architecture | $34,500 | $34,500 | $21,705 |
| International Business | $33,800 | $33,800 | N/A |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $33,700 | $33,700 | $23,887 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $33,100 | $33,100 | $22,598 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $32,700 | $32,700 | $25,995 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $32,700 | $32,700 | $26,750 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $32,300 | $32,300 | $24,610 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $32,300 | $32,300 | $22,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,900 | $31,900 | $22,500 |
| Psychology, General | $30,500 | $30,500 | $22,250 |
| Animal Sciences | $29,700 | $29,700 | $17,348 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $29,600 | $29,600 | $26,000 |
| Chemistry | $29,500 | $29,500 | $26,000 |
| Sociology | $29,400 | $29,400 | $24,990 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $28,900 | $28,900 | $25,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $28,500 | $28,500 | $24,995 |
| Journalism | $27,700 | $27,700 | $19,500 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $27,700 | $27,700 | $23,250 |
| Biology, General | $27,600 | $27,600 | $24,756 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $24,700 | $24,700 | $21,000 |
Similar Colleges in TX
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Lubbock, TX
- Student Body
- 32,394 students
- Admission Rate
- 73%
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $19,070
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $62,454
- Median Student Debt
- $21,500