At $15,137/yr net price, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi graduates earn $51,865/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $17,865/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $15,137 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $60,548 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,865/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$17,865/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 33.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,936/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,543/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,374/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,660/yr |
| $110,001+ | $22,683/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $104,454 | $45,500 |
| Bioethics/Medical Ethics. | Master | $78,971 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $64,493 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $62,422 | $20,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $57,318 | $16,327 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $54,748 | $25,625 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $52,107 | $26,675 |
| Curriculum and Instruction. | Master | $50,439 | |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $49,269 | $22,867 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $47,729 | $19,750 |
The Risk Factor
33.7% of students at Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi gives you a moderate financial return with a real completion risk attached. The debt you carry out is manageable against what you earn, but only if you actually graduate, and a third of students finish in six years.
Nursing is the clear winner here. You leave with the highest pay of any program and the second-lowest debt, which is the best payoff-to-borrowing ratio on the list. Computer science and mechanical engineering pay well too, but you borrow more for both, and mechanical engineering carries the heaviest debt of any program while paying less than computer science. Chemistry sits at the bottom for pay, so treat a bachelor's in it as a stepping stone to further schooling rather than an endpoint. Finance lands in the middle on pay but keeps debt low, which makes it a safer bet than the engineering track.
The specific risk at this school is not debt, it's whether you leave with a degree at all. A 58.5% retention rate means roughly four in ten first-year students don't come back, and the 33.7% graduation rate is the number to worry about. Debt without a diploma is the worst outcome, and the odds of that here are higher than at most public four-years.
If you're from a lower-income family, the price works in your favor. Under $30k, you pay about half the sticker net price, and it climbs steadily as income rises, with families over $110k paying roughly double the lowest tier. This is a solid financial fit if you're planning nursing, computing, or finance and you're confident you'll finish. If you're undecided or shaky on committing, the completion odds make this a gamble, and you should look at a school where more students actually graduate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi worth the cost?
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi offers mixed value with a relatively affordable net price of $15,137 but concerning outcomes including a 34% graduation rate and $51,865 median earnings after 10 years. The school works best for nursing students who can earn over $100,000, but other programs struggle to justify even the modest cost.
What are the best paying majors at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi?
Nursing programs at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi lead earnings at $104,454 and $62,422 depending on specialization, followed by bioethics at $78,971. Business and accounting graduates earn $57,318 and $64,493 respectively, which barely exceeds the overall median of $51,865.
How much debt do Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi graduates typically have?
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi graduates carry a median debt of $23,000, which is manageable for nursing majors but creates challenging debt-to-income ratios for most other programs. With only 34% of students graduating, many leave with debt but no degree.
Does Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi have a good graduation rate?
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has a poor 34% graduation rate, meaning two-thirds of students never finish their degree. This low completion rate significantly undermines the school's value proposition despite its affordable tuition.