At $17,435/yr net price, The University of Texas at Dallas graduates earn $68,227/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $34,227/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $17,435 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $69,740 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,227/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$34,227/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 70.8% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $18,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,089/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,910/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,813/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,886/yr |
| $110,001+ | $25,491/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Engineering. | Master | $101,406 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $94,674 | $49,818 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Master | $94,408 | $22,374 |
| Computer Engineering. | Master | $94,408 | |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Master | $81,333 | $33,305 |
| Information Science/Studies. | Master | $75,518 | $32,797 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor | $74,953 | $21,375 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $69,098 | $24,125 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $67,324 | $17,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Master | $64,990 |
The Risk Factor
70.8% of students at The University of Texas at Dallas graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 29% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
UT Dallas gives you a strong financial return if you go into engineering or computer science, and a weaker one almost everywhere else. The median graduate earns $68,227 ten years out while carrying just $18,000 in debt, so the typical borrower here isn't overextended. A 70.8% grad rate and an 88% retention rate mean most students who start actually finish, which protects you from the worst ROI outcome: debt with no degree.
The payoff is concentrated in the school's technical majors, which sit next to the Richardson tech corridor and the North Texas employers that hire from it. Computer engineering leads at nearly $75,000, followed by electrical engineering and computer science. Computer science is the smart bet on cost too, pairing solid pay with the lowest program debt on the list at $17,500. Electrical engineering is the outlier to watch: you take on the most debt of any listed program, $24,125, for less pay than computer engineering.
Physics and mechanical engineering earn the least of the top five, and both carry over $20,000 in debt. If your interests run outside STEM, no bachelor-level earnings data is listed here, so treat this school's headline numbers as engineering-driven and don't assume they apply to your major.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $11,000 a year. That climbs sharply past $75,000 in income, reaching over $25,000 for families above $110,000. The main risk is picking a non-technical major and paying the same tuition without the engineering salary to service the debt.
This school fits you well if you're set on engineering or computer science, especially from a lower-income household. Look elsewhere if you want a non-STEM path and need the earnings data to back it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The University of Texas at Dallas worth the cost?
UT Dallas offers solid ROI with graduates earning $68,227 after 10 years and typical debt of only $18,000. The engineering and computer science programs deliver particularly strong returns, with some majors earning over $100,000 annually.
What are the highest paying majors at The University of Texas at Dallas?
Systems Engineering leads at $101,406 annually, followed by Business Administration at $94,674 and Computer Science at $94,408. These tech-focused programs justify the investment better than most other majors at the school.
How much debt do students typically graduate with from The University of Texas at Dallas?
The median debt is $18,000, which is relatively low compared to national averages. This manageable debt load combined with decent starting salaries makes UT Dallas a reasonable financial choice for most students.
Does The University of Texas at Dallas have good job placement after graduation?
With a 70.8% graduation rate and strong earnings in STEM fields, job prospects are decent but not exceptional. Students in engineering and computer science fare much better than those in other programs.