At $6,500/yr net price, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates earn $49,620/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $15,620/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $6,500 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $26,000 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,620/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$15,620/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 1.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 49.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $12,950 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,006/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,775/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,695/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,104/yr |
| $110,001+ | $16,528/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $109,235 | $73,496 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $106,421 | $23,302 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $61,516 | |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Master | $61,516 | $25,578 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $61,334 | $11,208 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $56,234 | $17,819 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $55,693 | $17,892 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $55,151 | $29,158 |
| Mathematics. | Master | $53,810 | |
| Biology, General. | Master | $53,697 | $17,000 |
The Risk Factor
49.3% of students at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
UTRGV gives you a low-cost degree with a modest but real payoff. At $6,500 a year and median debt under $13,000, you graduate owing less than one year of median earnings. That debt-to-income math is the strongest thing this school has going for it, and it holds even though median 10-year earnings of $49,620 sit below the national average.
Your major decides everything here. Nursing pays the most at $61,334 and carries the lowest debt of any top program, making it the clearest win on campus. The three engineering tracks,electrical, mechanical, and civil,all clear $50,000, though electrical comes with nearly $18,000 in debt, the highest of the group. Civil engineering is the sharper deal: similar pay to nursing-adjacent fields with only $11,000 borrowed. These programs feed the Rio Grande Valley's healthcare and infrastructure demand directly.
The main risk is finishing. Fewer than half of students graduate, and about one in five don't return after freshman year. Cheap tuition means nothing if you leave with debt and no degree, so the graduation odds are the number to watch, not the price.
This school fits you if you're staying in the region, targeting nursing or engineering, and want to keep borrowing low. Families earning under $48,000 pay under $6,000 a year, which makes UTRGV one of the most affordable four-year options available to you. If your family earns over $110,000, your price jumps past $16,000, and the earnings ceiling here may not justify that gap when a higher-paying school could.
Skip UTRGV if you want a liberal-arts or business degree with no salary data shown here,the payoff for those paths isn't documented, and the campus-wide median suggests they trail the STEM and health programs by a wide margin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley worth the cost?
With a net price of $6,500 per year and median debt of only $12,950, UTRGV offers strong value for students who graduate. The low cost makes it worth it even with modest post-graduation earnings of $49,620.
What are the best paying programs at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley?
Allied health and nursing programs at UTRGV lead to the highest earnings, with graduates making $106,000-$109,000 annually. Business and communication disorders graduates earn around $61,500, which is solid given the low tuition costs.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and does it matter?
UTRGV's 49% graduation rate is concerning and means half of students don't finish their degree. However, those who do graduate face minimal debt and enter a job market where even modest salaries justify the investment.
How much debt do students typically have after attending The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley?
UTRGV graduates have a median debt of $12,950, which is very manageable compared to national averages. The low debt load makes this school a relatively safe financial choice even for students in lower-paying fields.