At $20,071/yr net price, Texas Tech University graduates earn $62,454/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $28,454/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $20,071 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $80,284 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,454/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$28,454/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 67.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,922/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,173/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,376/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,239/yr |
| $110,001+ | $24,903/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research. | Doctoral | $89,305 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Master | $83,915 | |
| Petroleum Engineering. | Bachelor | $83,325 | $24,850 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $75,706 | $32,703 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor | $74,017 | $24,250 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $73,562 | $19,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $73,530 | $26,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $69,596 | $25,000 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $69,338 | $27,232 |
| Construction Engineering. | Bachelor | $68,139 | $24,446 |
The Risk Factor
67.5% of students at Texas Tech University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 33% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Texas Tech gives you a solid return for a public school, with median debt low enough that most graduates can pay it off without much strain. Median earnings ten years out sit comfortably above the debt you'd carry, and a 67.5% grad rate paired with an 85% retention rate means most people who start here finish, which is the single biggest factor in whether college pays off at all.
Engineering is where the money is. Petroleum engineering leads by a wide margin, which tracks with the oil and gas economy across West Texas and the Permian Basin sitting just south of Lubbock. Computer engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science all clear $73,000, and computer science does it with the lowest debt of the bunch. If you're targeting these fields, Texas Tech pays off clearly.
The risk is major choice. The top-earning programs are all engineering and computing, and no other fields appear in the high-earnings data. If you enroll planning to graduate in one of those and switch to something with weaker outcomes, your earnings can fall well below the school-wide median while your debt stays the same. The petroleum path also ties your prospects to a boom-bust energy market, so a downturn hits your early career harder than it would in a steadier field.
Cost scales with income here. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay under $14,000 a year. over $110,000 pushes it near $25,000. That lower tier makes Texas Tech a reasonable bet for lower-income families, especially in an engineering track. It's a strong fit if you're set on engineering or computing and can live near Lubbock's energy job market. Look harder at the numbers if you're undecided or leaning toward a major that doesn't appear in the earnings data above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Texas Tech University worth the cost compared to other state schools?
Texas Tech offers decent value with a net price of $20,071 and graduates earning $62,454 after 10 years. The return on investment is reasonable for a state university, though not exceptional compared to top engineering schools in Texas.
What are the highest paying majors at Texas Tech University?
Engineering programs at Texas Tech deliver strong returns, with petroleum engineering graduates earning $83,325 and electrical engineering graduates earning $83,915. Business and computer engineering also pay well, while education research tops the list at $89,305.
How much student debt do Texas Tech University graduates typically have?
Texas Tech graduates leave with a median debt of $21,500, which is manageable given the average starting salaries in engineering and business programs. This debt level is reasonable for most graduates who complete their degrees.
Does Texas Tech University have good job placement after graduation?
With a 67.5% graduation rate and solid earnings in technical fields, Texas Tech produces employable graduates, particularly in engineering. However, the relatively low graduation rate means about one-third of students don't finish their degrees.