Head-to-head comparison
Tarleton State University vs Texas Lutheran University: which has better ROI?
Option A Stephenville, TX
Tarleton State University
- Net price / year
- $20,783
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,040
- Payback
- 17.8 yrs
Option B Seguin, TX
Texas Lutheran University
- Net price / year
- $24,654
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,863
- Payback
- 17.9 yrs
Tarleton State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,132 in 17.8 years versus 17.9 years at Texas Lutheran University, on median earnings of $53,040 vs $53,863 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tarleton State University | Texas Lutheran University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,783 | $24,654 |
| Total net cost | $83,132 | $98,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,040 | $53,863 |
| Median debt | $19,606 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 17.8 yrs | 17.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $10,468 | $11,444 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tarleton State University or Texas Lutheran University?
Tarleton State University, at $20,783 a year after aid versus $24,654 — a gap of $3,871 a year, or $15,484 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 Tarleton State University or Texas Lutheran University graduates earn more?
Texas Lutheran University graduates report a median $53,863 ten years after entry, $823 more than the $53,040 at Tarleton 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, Tarleton State University or Texas Lutheran University?
Tarleton State University: its completers carry a median $19,606 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Texas Lutheran University, a difference of $5,394. 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?
54% of students finish at Texas Lutheran University, against 48% at Tarleton State University. 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.