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Texas State University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · San Marcos, TX · 36,177 students

The verdict

Texas State University charges a net price of $16,805/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $67,220. Graduates earn a median $56,906 ten years after entry, $8,546/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.9 years — a 20-year net return of $103,700, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Texas State University's 7.9-year payback ranks #684 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 47% of them, and #30 of 213 in Texas.

Better ROI than 47% of US colleges#684 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$16,805
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$56,906
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
7.9 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
89%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Texas State University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$16,805/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$67,220our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$56,906Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$8,546/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$21,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback7.9 yrsour math
20-year net return$103,700our math

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

The arithmetic, on Texas State University's own numbers. Net price $16,805 × 4 years = $67,220 total. Median earnings $56,906 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $8,546 a year of premium. $67,220 ÷ $8,546 = 7.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $103,700. 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 Texas State University students graduate with?

A median $21,000 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $56,906 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Texas State University students graduate?

55% finish their degree — 45% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $67,220 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $122,218 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Texas State University expensive compared with other Texas colleges?

Its $16,805 net price runs $2,554 below the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, and $10,216 less across the full degree.

Texas State University: frequently asked questions

Is Texas State University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Texas State University charges $16,805/yr after aid ($67,220 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $56,906 ten years out — $8,546/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 7.9 years and returns $103,700 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Texas State University degree take to pay off?
About 7.9 years. We divide the $67,220 four-year net cost by the $8,546/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 Texas State University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $16,805/yr — about $67,220 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Texas State University compare to other Texas colleges?
It ranks #30 of 213 Texas colleges we track by payback. Its $56,906 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $16,805 net price is below the national median of $16,902.