Sul Ross State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Sul Ross State University charges a net price of $13,286/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $53,144. Median earnings ten years after entry are $41,871, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Sul Ross State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #103 of 213 Texas colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,286/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $53,144 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $41,871 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$6,489/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $15,900 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$182,924 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Sul Ross State University's own numbers. Net price $13,286 × 4 years = $53,144 total. Median earnings $41,871 fall $6,489 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $53,144 bill in about 5.3 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Sul Ross State University students graduate with?
A median $15,900 in federal loans among completers, or 38% of the $41,871 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Sul Ross State University students graduate?
30% finish their degree — 70% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $53,144 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $177,147 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Sul Ross State University expensive compared with other Texas colleges?
Its $13,286 net price runs $6,073 below the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, and $24,292 less across the full degree.