Head-to-head comparison
Sam Houston State University vs University of the Incarnate Word: which has better ROI?
Option A Huntsville, TX
Sam Houston State University
- Net price / year
- $16,404
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,211
- Payback
- 11.2 yrs
Option B San Antonio, TX
University of the Incarnate Word
- Net price / year
- $22,775
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,733
- Payback
- 10.9 yrs
University of the Incarnate Word has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $91,100 in 10.9 years versus 11.2 years at Sam Houston State University, on median earnings of $56,733 vs $54,211 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Sam Houston State University | University of the Incarnate Word |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,404 | $22,775 |
| Total net cost | $65,616 | $91,100 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,211 | $56,733 |
| Median debt | $21,983 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 11.2 yrs | 10.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $51,404 | $76,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Sam Houston State University or University of the Incarnate Word?
Sam Houston State University, at $16,404 a year after aid versus $22,775 — a gap of $6,371 a year, or $25,484 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Sam Houston State University or University of the Incarnate Word graduates earn more?
University of the Incarnate Word graduates report a median $56,733 ten years after entry, $2,522 more than the $54,211 at Sam Houston State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Sam Houston State University or University of the Incarnate Word?
Sam Houston State University: its completers carry a median $21,983 in federal loans versus $27,000 at University of the Incarnate Word, a difference of $5,017. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Sam Houston State University, against 51% at University of the Incarnate Word. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.