Cheapest Engineering Colleges in Texas

Texas Christian University engineering graduates earn $69,338 annually, nearly double the $44,356 earned by University of the Incarnate Word alumni, highlighting how program choice dramatically affects career outcomes. The state's 14 engineering programs range from $10,409 at Jarvis Christian University to $41,942 at Baylor University. Texas A&M College Station achieves an 83.8% graduation rate at just $20,924 net cost, making it a standout value. With Houston's Texas Medical Center employing thousands of biomedical engineers and the state's energy sector driving demand for petroleum and chemical engineers, Texas offers strong job prospects across engineering disciplines.

Programs

$10,409 – $41,942

Net Price Range

$56,847

Avg. Program Earnings

58.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

14 Engineering, General Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Jarvis Christian University Hawkins, Texas	$10,409	$11,720	15.1%
2	The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas	$10,726	$9,744	45.9%	99.9%
3	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas	$11,234	$8,991	51.2%	86.9%
4	Houston Christian University Houston, Texas	$19,710	$38,100	49.8%	84.5%
5	Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas	$20,071	$11,852	67.5%	67.3%
6	Tarleton State University Stephenville, Texas	$20,261	$7,878	51.2%	87.1%
7	Schreiner University Kerrville, Texas	$20,410	$37,396	43.7%	85.2%
8	University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, Texas	$20,498	$35,660	51.8%	94.2%
9	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, Texas	$20,924	$13,099	83.8%	62.7%
10	Abilene Christian University Abilene, Texas	$27,401	$42,380	60.2%	65.8%
11	University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Belton, Texas	$28,690	$33,150	53.4%	95.7%
12	Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas	$33,531	$57,220	85.6%	56.1%
13	Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas	$41,778	$64,460	83.3%	52.3%
14	Baylor University Waco, Texas	$41,942	$54,844	80.2%	45.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes UT El Paso such an affordable engineering option?

UT El Paso charges just $10,726 net cost with a 99.92% acceptance rate, making engineering accessible to nearly all applicants. The public university serves the border region where bilingual engineers are in high demand for manufacturing and international trade.

How do graduation rates compare between affordable and expensive programs?

Texas A&M College Station achieves 83.8% graduation rates at $20,924 net cost, outperforming both cheaper options like Jarvis Christian at 15.1% and expensive programs like Southern Methodist at 83.3%. Strong student support systems matter more than price alone.

Is attending private engineering schools worth the higher cost?

Private schools cost $19,710 to $41,942 versus $10,726 to $20,924 for public options, yet earnings vary widely regardless of sector. TCU graduates earn $69,338 while University of the Incarnate Word graduates earn $44,356 despite similar net costs.

Where do most affordable engineering programs cluster geographically?

The cheapest programs concentrate in smaller Texas cities like Hawkins, El Paso, and Stephenville, where living costs are lower. Major metropolitan areas like Dallas and Houston host the most expensive programs but also offer more internship opportunities.

More Engineering, General Rankings

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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.