Howard Payne University and Texas A&M University-College Station present starkly different educational experiences despite similar acceptance rates (62.29% vs 62.65%).
Admission and Cost: Both schools admit roughly 6 in 10 applicants, making admission moderately competitive. Texas A&M offers significant savings for in-state students at $13,099 versus Howard Payne's flat $33,322 tuition. However, average net prices favor Texas A&M at $20,924 compared to Howard Payne's $25,255.
Academic Environment: Howard Payne provides intimate learning with 716 students and a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, while Texas A&M serves 59,099 students with a 19:1 ratio. Texas A&M's massive research university status offers extensive academic programs and resources that a small liberal arts college cannot match.
Campus Experience: Howard Payne offers close-knit community connections typical of small colleges, while Texas A&M delivers the full big-university experience with major athletics (Division I vs Division III) and numerous student organizations.
Outcomes: The data reveals substantial differences in success metrics. Texas A&M achieves an 83.80% six-year graduation rate compared to Howard Payne's 31.10%. Retention rates show 94.25% versus 54.77%. Ten-year median earnings heavily favor Texas A&M graduates at $72,097 versus $48,376, though Texas A&M graduates carry less debt ($17,804 vs $26,793).
Howard Payne suits students seeking personalized attention and small college intimacy who prioritize close faculty relationships over career earnings. Texas A&M fits students wanting comprehensive university resources, strong alumni networks, and higher earning potential who can thrive in large academic environments.
Admission and Cost: Both schools admit roughly 6 in 10 applicants, making admission moderately competitive. Texas A&M offers significant savings for in-state students at $13,099 versus Howard Payne's flat $33,322 tuition. However, average net prices favor Texas A&M at $20,924 compared to Howard Payne's $25,255.
Academic Environment: Howard Payne provides intimate learning with 716 students and a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, while Texas A&M serves 59,099 students with a 19:1 ratio. Texas A&M's massive research university status offers extensive academic programs and resources that a small liberal arts college cannot match.
Campus Experience: Howard Payne offers close-knit community connections typical of small colleges, while Texas A&M delivers the full big-university experience with major athletics (Division I vs Division III) and numerous student organizations.
Outcomes: The data reveals substantial differences in success metrics. Texas A&M achieves an 83.80% six-year graduation rate compared to Howard Payne's 31.10%. Retention rates show 94.25% versus 54.77%. Ten-year median earnings heavily favor Texas A&M graduates at $72,097 versus $48,376, though Texas A&M graduates carry less debt ($17,804 vs $26,793).
Howard Payne suits students seeking personalized attention and small college intimacy who prioritize close faculty relationships over career earnings. Texas A&M fits students wanting comprehensive university resources, strong alumni networks, and higher earning potential who can thrive in large academic environments.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Howard Payne University | Texas A & M University-College Station | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 62.3% | 62.7% |
| SAT Average | 1,025 | 1,270 |
| Enrollment | 716 | 59,099 |
| In-State Tuition | $33,322 | $13,099 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $33,322 | $40,328 |
| Net Price | $25,255 | $20,924 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 31.1% | 83.8% |
| Retention Rate | 54.8% | 94.3% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $48,376 | $72,097 |
| Median Debt | $26,793 | $17,804 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| Howard Payne University | Texas A & M University-College Station | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $37,568 | Petroleum Engineering. | $92,124 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $33,993 | Marine Transportation. | $86,129 |
| Criminology. | $32,563 | Chemical Engineering. | $80,669 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | $31,042 | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $77,062 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | $23,649 | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $77,024 |