The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley — ROI, Cost & Payback
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley charges a net price of $4,831/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $19,324. Graduates earn a median $49,620 ten years after entry, $1,260/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 15.3 years — a 20-year net return of $5,876, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's 15.3-year payback ranks #971 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 24% of them, and #48 of 213 in Texas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $4,831/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $19,324 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,620 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,260/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,950 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 15.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $5,876 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.