Head-to-head comparison
Tarleton State University vs Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth: 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 Irving, TX
Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth
- Net price / year
- $26,265
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,222
- Payback
- 18.4 yrs
Tarleton State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,132 in 17.8 years versus 18.4 years at Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth, on median earnings of $53,040 vs $51,222 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tarleton State University | Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,783 | $26,265 |
| Total net cost | $83,132 | $52,530 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,040 | $51,222 |
| Median debt | $19,606 | $14,267 |
| Payback | 17.8 yrs | 18.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $10,468 | $4,710 |
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 Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth?
Tarleton State University, at $20,783 a year after aid versus $26,265 — a gap of $5,482 a year, or $30,602 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 Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth graduates earn more?
Tarleton State University graduates report a median $53,040 ten years after entry, $1,818 more than the $51,222 at Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth. 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 Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth?
Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth: its completers carry a median $14,267 in federal loans versus $19,606 at Tarleton State University, a difference of $5,339. 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?
75% of students finish at Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth, 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.