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Austin College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Sherman, TX · 1,165 students

The verdict

Austin College charges a net price of $21,107/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $84,428. Graduates earn a median $61,296 ten years after entry, $12,936/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.5 years — a 20-year net return of $174,292, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Austin College's 6.5-year payback ranks #564 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 56% of them, and #22 of 213 in Texas.

Better ROI than 56% of US colleges#564 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$21,107
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$61,296
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
6.5 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
48%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Austin College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$21,107/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$84,428our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$61,296Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$12,936/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$24,500Scorecard, 2026
Payback6.5 yrsour math
20-year net return$174,292our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Austin College's own numbers. Net price $21,107 × 4 years = $84,428 total. Median earnings $61,296 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $12,936 a year of premium. $84,428 ÷ $12,936 = 6.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $174,292. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Austin College students graduate with?

A median $24,500 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $61,296 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Austin College students graduate?

67% finish their degree — 33% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $84,428 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $126,012 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Austin College expensive compared with other Texas colleges?

Its $21,107 net price runs $1,748 above the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, or $6,992 more across the full degree.

Austin College: frequently asked questions

Is Austin College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Austin College charges $21,107/yr after aid ($84,428 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $61,296 ten years out — $12,936/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 6.5 years and returns $174,292 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Austin College degree take to pay off?
About 6.5 years. We divide the $84,428 four-year net cost by the $12,936/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Austin College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $21,107/yr — about $84,428 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Austin College compare to other Texas colleges?
It ranks #22 of 213 Texas colleges we track by payback. Its $61,296 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $21,107 net price is above the national median of $16,902.