The University of Texas Permian Basin
The University of Texas Permian Basin — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
The University of Texas Permian Basin at a Glance
The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) is a public university in Odessa, Texas, United States. It is part of the University of Texas System. UTPB was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973. UTPB is home to over 4,900 students and 300 teaching faculty as of fall 2024.
1969
57 years old
$69M
$68.8 million ( FY 2024) (UTPB only) $47.47 billion (FY2024) (system-wide)
4,963
3,974 undergrad · 989 grad
306
644 acres
Identity
Is The University of Texas Permian Basin Worth It?
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers moderate value at $12,723/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $56,073, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 42% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 95% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
How The University of Texas Permian Basin compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #33 of 111 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 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #2 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #3 | Bellingham Technical College | 92 | $5,997 | $49,748 |
| #4 | Bates Technical College | 86 | $6,292 | $50,051 |
| #5 | University of Illinois Springfield | 83 | $9,833 | $57,103 |
| #6 | California State University-Channel Islands | 83 | $9,849 | $62,152 |
| #33 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 46 | $12,723 | $56,073 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of The University of Texas Permian Basin's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 8 in TX.
Best Programs at The University of Texas Permian Basin
The highest-earning program at The University of Texas Permian Basin is Petroleum Engineering at $71,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Health and Physical Education/Fitness at $30,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Petroleum Engineering graduate from The University of Texas Permian Basin earns $71,400, while a Health and Physical Education/Fitness graduate earns $30,900. 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 $17,500 in median debt vs. $14,205 for Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $12,723/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 | $71,400 | $71,400 | $17,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $52,700 | $52,700 | N/A |
| Accounting and Related Services | $52,700 | $52,700 | $17,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $46,400 | $46,400 | $15,500 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $40,900 | $40,900 | $17,350 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $40,600 | $40,600 | N/A |
| Psychology, General | $37,000 | $37,000 | $15,043 |
| Sociology | $35,100 | $35,100 | $16,959 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $30,900 | $30,900 | $14,205 |
Similar Colleges in TX
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Odessa, TX
- Student Body
- 3,911 students
- Admission Rate
- 95%
- Graduation Rate
- 42%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $12,723
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $56,073
- Median Student Debt
- $17,750