The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
The University of Texas at Arlington at a Glance
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university in Arlington, Texas, United States. It is the second oldest university in the University of Texas System and was founded in 1895. It was in the Texas A&M University System for several decades until joining the University of Texas System in 1965.
1895
131 years old
$223M
$223.2 million ( FY 2024) (UTA only) $47.47 billion (FY2024) (system-wide)
41,613
29,271 undergrad · 12,342 grad
1,831
420 acres
Identity
How to Apply to The University of Texas at Arlington
Official admissions pageTesting policy
Fee waiver
Is The University of Texas at Arlington Worth It?
The University of Texas at Arlington delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $13,951/year, it's priced 32% below average, while graduates go on to earn $63,199 — 17% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 55% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How The University of Texas at Arlington compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #10 of 40 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 | San Jose State University | 96 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| #3 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #4 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #5 | Washington State University | 70 | $14,971 | $68,905 |
| #6 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 68 | $10,836 | $57,131 |
| #10 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 63 | $13,951 | $63,199 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of The University of Texas at Arlington's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 5 in TX.
Best Programs at The University of Texas at Arlington
The highest-earning program at The University of Texas at Arlington is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $70,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $14,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from The University of Texas at Arlington earns $70,300, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $14,100. 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: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $17,167 in median debt vs. $21,250 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $13,951/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $70,300 | $70,300 | $17,167 |
| Computer Science | $68,300 | $68,300 | $20,648 |
| Computer Engineering | $66,700 | $66,700 | $21,500 |
| Industrial Engineering | $63,800 | $63,800 | $20,875 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $63,100 | $63,100 | $24,967 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $62,500 | $62,500 | $20,600 |
| Civil Engineering | $60,000 | $60,000 | $23,453 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $53,600 | $53,600 | $22,197 |
| Information Science/Studies | $53,000 | $53,000 | $16,250 |
| Mathematics | $47,700 | $47,700 | $15,084 |
| Economics | $47,000 | $47,000 | $25,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $45,900 | $45,900 | $20,250 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $45,300 | $45,300 | $19,600 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $43,400 | $43,400 | $20,965 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $43,000 | $43,000 | $19,625 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $40,300 | $40,300 | $17,500 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $40,100 | $40,100 | $18,475 |
| Architecture | $39,800 | $39,800 | $22,539 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $39,700 | $39,700 | $20,000 |
| Music | $37,700 | $37,700 | $22,470 |
| Marketing | $37,200 | $37,200 | $20,750 |
| International Business | $36,000 | $36,000 | $12,878 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $35,200 | $35,200 | $19,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $35,100 | $35,100 | $19,666 |
| History | $34,600 | $34,600 | $17,911 |
| Political Science and Government | $34,200 | $34,200 | $18,875 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $33,900 | $33,900 | $19,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,300 | $32,300 | $20,000 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $31,900 | $31,900 | $19,500 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $31,900 | $31,900 | $18,463 |
| Sociology | $31,300 | $31,300 | $15,000 |
| Social Work | $30,900 | $30,900 | $20,960 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $30,800 | $30,800 | $16,750 |
| Journalism | $29,400 | $29,400 | $18,849 |
| Biology, General | $28,300 | $28,300 | $17,168 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $27,800 | $27,800 | $24,347 |
| Psychology, General | $27,300 | $27,300 | $18,750 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $20,400 | $20,400 | N/A |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $14,100 | $14,100 | $21,250 |
Similar Colleges in TX
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Arlington, TX
- Student Body
- 32,294 students
- Admission Rate
- 80%
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $13,951
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,199
- Median Student Debt
- $17,527