Head-to-head comparison
Texas Tech University vs Southern Methodist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Lubbock, TX
Texas Tech University
- Net price / year
- $19,070
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,454
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Option B Dallas, TX
Southern Methodist University
- Net price / year
- $40,892
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,354
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
Texas Tech University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,280 in 5.4 years versus 5.5 years at Southern Methodist University, on median earnings of $62,454 vs $78,354 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Texas Tech University | Southern Methodist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,070 | $40,892 |
| Total net cost | $76,280 | $163,568 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,454 | $78,354 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 5.4 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $205,600 | $436,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Texas Tech University or Southern Methodist University?
Texas Tech University, at $19,070 a year after aid versus $40,892 — a gap of $21,822 a year, or $87,288 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 Tech University or Southern Methodist University graduates earn more?
Southern Methodist University graduates report a median $78,354 ten years after entry, $15,900 more than the $62,454 at Texas Tech 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, Texas Tech University or Southern Methodist University?
Southern Methodist University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Texas Tech University, a difference of $2,000. 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 69% at Texas Tech 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.