Cost of college in Texas
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Texas averages $7,714 a year, or $11,818 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $52,641 and owe about $15,752. The net price pays back in about 4.4 years.
How Texas compares to the US
Texas ranks #42 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #32 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #24 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Texas | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $7,714 | $9,518 | -$1,804 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $19,363 | $23,652 | -$4,289 |
| Net price after aid | $11,818 | $13,788 | -$1,970 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $52,641 | $56,427 | -$3,786 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,752 | $17,856 | -$2,104 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Texas pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Texas costs about $47,272 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 4.4 years from the roughly $10,841-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #24 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Texas list about $45,633 in tuition and net out to about $27,886 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Texas?
At a public 4-year college in Texas, in-state tuition and fees average about $7,714 a year and out-of-state runs about $19,363. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $11,818. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Texas earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Texas's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $52,641 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $15,752 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Texas?
A public 4-year degree in Texas costs about $47,272 over four years at net price and recoups in about 4.4 years from the roughly $10,841-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.