The University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas at Dallas — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
The University of Texas at Dallas at a Glance
The University of Texas at Dallas is a public research university in Richardson, Texas, United States. It is the northernmost institution of the University of Texas System. It was initially founded in 1961 as a private research arm of Texas Instruments.
1961
65 years old
$863M
$862.7 million ( FY 2024) (UTD only) $47.47 billion (FY2024) (system-wide)
30,139
21,602 undergrad · 8,284 grad
1,404
23:1 student:faculty
645 acres
Identity
Is The University of Texas at Dallas Worth It?
The University of Texas at Dallas delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $18,267/year, it's priced 10% below average, while graduates go on to earn $68,227 — 27% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 75% graduation rate means roughly 25% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: The University of Texas at Dallas delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How The University of Texas at Dallas compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #8 of 17 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 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | CUNY City College | 100 | $3,776 | $66,039 |
| #3 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #4 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | 93 | $16,504 | $84,276 |
| #5 | University of Delaware | 82 | $17,799 | $72,950 |
| #6 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County | 75 | $16,467 | $69,960 |
| #8 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 70 | $18,267 | $68,227 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of The University of Texas at Dallas's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at The University of Texas at Dallas
The highest-earning program at The University of Texas at Dallas is Computer Engineering at $68,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services at $19,400/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from The University of Texas at Dallas earns $68,200, while a Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services graduate earns $19,400. 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: Computer Engineering graduates carry $25,125 in median debt vs. $18,375 for Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $18,267/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $68,200 | $68,200 | $25,125 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,000 | $67,000 | $20,420 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $64,800 | $64,800 | $16,875 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $57,800 | $57,800 | $22,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $53,800 | $53,800 | $17,400 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $50,300 | $50,300 | $16,500 |
| International Business | $50,000 | $50,000 | $13,250 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $45,600 | $45,600 | $18,665 |
| Marketing | $45,100 | $45,100 | $15,913 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $42,900 | $42,900 | $17,537 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $40,800 | $40,800 | $22,610 |
| Economics | $40,100 | $40,100 | $15,000 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $37,800 | $37,800 | $20,000 |
| Psychology, General | $33,800 | $33,800 | $17,500 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $32,000 | $32,000 | $18,125 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,100 | $31,100 | $21,519 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $30,300 | $30,300 | $17,999 |
| Criminology | $30,300 | $30,300 | $17,250 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $29,700 | $29,700 | $18,374 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $28,300 | $28,300 | $18,750 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $27,200 | $27,200 | $17,077 |
| Biology, General | $25,100 | $25,100 | $15,312 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $24,800 | $24,800 | $21,500 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $24,500 | $24,500 | $21,069 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $22,800 | $22,800 | $18,750 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $19,400 | $19,400 | $18,375 |
Similar Colleges in TX
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Richardson, TX
- Student Body
- 21,751 students
- Admission Rate
- 65%
- Graduation Rate
- 75%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $18,267
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $68,227
- Median Student Debt
- $18,000