University of North Texas
University of North Texas — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of North Texas at a Glance
The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public research university located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, United States. Its main campus is in Denton, with a satellite campus in Frisco. It serves as the flagship of the University of North Texas System, which also includes universities in Dallas and Fort Worth. UNT offers 116 bachelor's, 87 master's, and 40 doctoral programs. Founded in 1890, it was the 24th largest university in the United States by enrollment in 2023.
1890
136 years old
$1.5B
$1.536B ($356 million ( FY 2025) + UNT's TUF Share: $1.18 billion )
46,940
35,700 undergrad · 12,010 grad
3,507
1,063 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of North Texas
Official admissions page$75
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is University of North Texas Worth It?
University of North Texas offers moderate value at $15,649/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $57,010, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 60% graduation rate means roughly 40% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of North Texas compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #15 of 30 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 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #2 | Florida Atlantic University | 100 | $8,752 | $56,746 |
| #3 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #4 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #5 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 71 | $17,890 | $68,396 |
| #6 | San Diego Mesa College | 66 | $5,814 | $45,120 |
| #15 | University of North Texas | 55 | $15,649 | $57,010 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of North Texas's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in TX.
Best Programs at University of North Texas
The highest-earning program at University of North Texas is Computer Engineering at $69,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Anthropology at $19,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from University of North Texas earns $69,300, 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: Computer Engineering graduates carry $23,828 in median debt vs. $18,750 for Anthropology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $15,649/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 | $69,300 | $69,300 | $23,828 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $68,000 | $68,000 | $24,250 |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $65,000 | $65,000 | N/A |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $61,100 | $61,100 | $23,620 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $57,000 | $57,000 | $23,584 |
| Insurance | $56,800 | $56,800 | $22,210 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $55,600 | $55,600 | $20,682 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $54,700 | $54,700 | $21,250 |
| Air Transportation | $54,100 | $54,100 | $18,521 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $49,000 | $49,000 | $25,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,800 | $48,800 | $20,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $48,000 | $48,000 | $20,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $45,600 | $45,600 | $24,505 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $45,200 | $45,200 | $19,581 |
| Interior Architecture | $44,900 | $44,900 | $22,523 |
| Mathematics | $44,300 | $44,300 | $22,538 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $42,900 | $42,900 | $19,335 |
| Economics | $40,600 | $40,600 | $25,000 |
| Homeland Security | $40,100 | $40,100 | $18,958 |
| Marketing | $40,100 | $40,100 | $17,900 |
| Geography and Cartography | $39,300 | $39,300 | $19,000 |
| Music | $38,100 | $38,100 | $25,982 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $37,800 | $37,800 | $18,977 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $37,600 | $37,600 | $26,000 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $37,000 | $37,000 | $23,760 |
| History | $36,600 | $36,600 | $20,134 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $34,800 | $34,800 | $22,497 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $34,700 | $34,700 | $19,000 |
| Social Work | $34,400 | $34,400 | $21,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $34,000 | $34,000 | $21,000 |
| Sociology | $33,200 | $33,200 | $21,750 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $33,100 | $33,100 | $23,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $32,600 | $32,600 | $21,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $31,900 | $31,900 | $19,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $31,900 | $31,900 | $19,500 |
| Journalism | $31,400 | $31,400 | $20,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $31,100 | $31,100 | $21,500 |
| Social Sciences, General | $31,100 | $31,100 | $22,681 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $30,200 | $30,200 | $21,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $30,200 | $30,200 | $19,250 |
| Psychology, General | $29,900 | $29,900 | $19,500 |
| International/Global Studies | $29,600 | $29,600 | $17,875 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $29,200 | $29,200 | $17,816 |
| Chemistry | $29,100 | $29,100 | $24,557 |
| Biology, General | $28,400 | $28,400 | $19,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $27,100 | $27,100 | $22,456 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $25,700 | $25,700 | $19,606 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $25,300 | $25,300 | $19,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $25,100 | $25,100 | $25,000 |
| Dance | $23,100 | $23,100 | $22,920 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $22,700 | $22,700 | $24,324 |
| Anthropology | $19,500 | $19,500 | $18,750 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Denton, TX
- Student Body
- 34,341 students
- Admission Rate
- 72%
- Graduation Rate
- 60%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $15,649
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $57,010
- Median Student Debt
- $19,250