Best Value Electrical Colleges in Texas

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley delivers an electrical engineering education for just $6,500 in net costs, while UT Austin commands nearly $20,000 but produces graduates earning $80,550 annually. This $74,050 earnings gap between the highest and lowest-paying programs reflects Texas's varied engineering job market, from border manufacturing facilities to Austin's tech corridor. Texas A&M Kingsville stands out with a 96.55% acceptance rate yet maintains strong $68,079 graduate earnings, making quality engineering education accessible across the state. The state's massive energy sector, including major utilities like CenterPoint Energy and renewable projects, creates steady demand for electrical engineers. With 15 public programs spanning from $6,500 to $20,924 in net costs, Texas offers engineering pathways that align with different financial situations while maintaining connection to the state's $2.4 trillion economy.

Programs

$6,500 – $41,942

Net Price Range

$68,562

Avg. Program Earnings

56.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

27 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas	$6,500	$55,693	$9,859	49.3%	87.7%
2	Texas A & M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas	$10,204	$68,079	$9,892	45.6%	96.6%
3	The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas	$10,726	$66,821	$9,744	45.9%	99.9%
4	Lamar University Beaumont, Texas	$11,429	$64,773	$8,690	37.2%	83.7%
5	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas	$11,234	$62,734	$8,991	51.2%	86.9%
6	University of Houston Houston, Texas	$13,853	$74,576	$9,711	64.9%	66.2%
7	Prairie View A & M University Prairie View, Texas	$14,041	$70,009	$11,299	43.2%	76.1%
8	The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, Texas	$13,931	$69,338	$9,920	46.8%	93.9%
9	University of North Texas Denton, Texas	$14,352	$68,219	$11,164	59.6%	79.1%
10	The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas	$15,235	$66,461	$11,728	56.5%	80.8%
11	Texas State University San Marcos, Texas	$16,438	$68,858	$11,450	56.2%	87.7%
12	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$19,678	$80,550	$11,678	87.6%	31.4%
13	The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, Texas	$17,435	$69,098	$14,564	70.8%	84.7%
14	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, Texas	$20,924	$77,062	$13,099	83.8%	62.7%
15	Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas	$20,071	$73,530	$11,852	67.5%	67.3%
16	Baylor University Waco, Texas	$41,942	$75,047	$54,844	80.2%	45.9%
17	Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas	$41,778	$54,713	$64,460	83.3%	52.3%
18	Texas Southern University Houston, Texas	$19,734		$9,173	19.9%	96.8%
19	West Texas A & M University Canyon, Texas	$20,841		$9,101	47.3%	91.6%
20	Tarleton State University Stephenville, Texas	$20,261		$7,878	51.2%	87.1%
21	St. Mary's University San Antonio, Texas	$21,352		$36,242	58.8%	86.2%
22	Rice University Houston, Texas	$12,640		$58,128	95.7%	8.7%
23	LeTourneau University Longview, Texas	$25,314		$35,500	61.1%	48.8%
24	Houston Christian University Houston, Texas	$19,710		$38,100	49.8%	84.5%
25	Texas A & M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas	$11,268		$10,026	45.9%	86.5%
26	Texas A&M University-Texarkana Texarkana, Texas	$12,637		$7,930	31.2%	91.5%
27	Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, Texas	$15,137		$9,748	33.7%	88.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes UT Rio Grande Valley such an affordable option for electrical engineering?

UT Rio Grande Valley charges just $6,500 in net costs, the lowest among Texas electrical engineering programs. The school maintains a $9,859 in-state tuition while graduates earn $55,693 annually. With manageable debt levels at $17,892 and an 87.70% acceptance rate, the program provides accessible engineering education in the Rio Grande Valley's growing manufacturing sector.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Texas electrical engineering?

UT Austin leads with an 87.60% graduation rate but costs $19,678 in net expenses, while more affordable options show varied outcomes. Texas A&M College Station achieves 83.80% graduation rates at $20,924 net cost. However, UT Rio Grande Valley maintains respectable 49.30% graduation rates at just $6,500, proving that lower costs don't automatically mean lower success rates.

Is the earnings difference between Texas programs worth the cost variation?

UT Austin graduates earn $80,550 annually compared to $55,693 at UT Rio Grande Valley, creating a $24,857 earnings premium. However, Austin's net cost runs $13,178 higher, requiring about six months of the salary difference to break even. Texas A&M College Station offers a middle ground with $77,062 graduate earnings at $20,924 net cost.

Does Texas A&M Kingsville offer good value despite its remote location?

Texas A&M Kingsville delivers strong value with $68,079 graduate earnings at just $10,204 net cost, ranking second-lowest in expenses. The 96.55% acceptance rate makes admission highly accessible, though the 45.60% graduation rate requires consideration. Located in South Texas's energy corridor, graduates access jobs with companies like Valero and regional utilities.

Where do electrical engineering graduates find employment opportunities in Texas?

Texas's energy sector employs electrical engineers at companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, and growing renewable energy firms across West Texas wind farms. The state's tech industry, centered in Austin and Dallas, hires for roles at Dell, Texas Instruments, and numerous startups. Houston's petrochemical complex and aerospace industry, including NASA Johnson Space Center, create additional engineering opportunities with average salaries ranging from $54,713 to $80,550.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.