Head-to-head comparison
Southern Methodist University vs Texas A&M University-Victoria: which has better ROI?
Option A Dallas, TX
Southern Methodist University
- Net price / year
- $40,892
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,354
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
Option B Victoria, TX
Texas A&M University-Victoria
- Net price / year
- $8,109
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,467
- Payback
- 5.3 yrs
Texas A&M University-Victoria has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $32,436 in 5.3 years versus 5.5 years at Southern Methodist University, on median earnings of $54,467 vs $78,354 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Methodist University | Texas A&M University-Victoria |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,892 | $8,109 |
| Total net cost | $163,568 | $32,436 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,354 | $54,467 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $18,973 |
| Payback | 5.5 yrs | 5.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $436,312 | $89,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southern Methodist University or Texas A&M University-Victoria?
Texas A&M University-Victoria, at $8,109 a year after aid versus $40,892 — a gap of $32,783 a year, or $131,132 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 Southern Methodist University or Texas A&M University-Victoria graduates earn more?
Southern Methodist University graduates report a median $78,354 ten years after entry, $23,887 more than the $54,467 at Texas A&M University-Victoria. 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, Southern Methodist University or Texas A&M University-Victoria?
Texas A&M University-Victoria: its completers carry a median $18,973 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Southern Methodist University, a difference of $527. 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?
84% of students finish at Southern Methodist University, against 26% at Texas A&M University-Victoria. 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.