Head-to-head comparison
Texas State University vs Texas A&M University-San Antonio: which has better ROI?
Option A San Marcos, TX
Texas State University
- Net price / year
- $16,805
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,906
- Payback
- 7.9 yrs
Option B San Antonio, TX
Texas A&M University-San Antonio
- Net price / year
- $11,196
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,338
- Payback
- 7.5 yrs
Texas A&M University-San Antonio has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $44,784 in 7.5 years versus 7.9 years at Texas State University, on median earnings of $54,338 vs $56,906 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Texas State University | Texas A&M University-San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,805 | $11,196 |
| Total net cost | $67,220 | $44,784 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,906 | $54,338 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $18,401 |
| Payback | 7.9 yrs | 7.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $103,700 | $74,776 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Texas State University or Texas A&M University-San Antonio?
Texas A&M University-San Antonio, at $11,196 a year after aid versus $16,805 — a gap of $5,609 a year, or $22,436 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 Texas State University or Texas A&M University-San Antonio graduates earn more?
Texas State University graduates report a median $56,906 ten years after entry, $2,568 more than the $54,338 at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. 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, Texas State University or Texas A&M University-San Antonio?
Texas A&M University-San Antonio: its completers carry a median $18,401 in federal loans versus $21,000 at Texas State University, a difference of $2,599. 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 Texas State University, against 40% at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. 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.