Head-to-head comparison
Texas Woman's University vs Southern Methodist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Denton, TX
Texas Woman's University
- Net price / year
- $11,963
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,544
- Payback
- 5.8 yrs
Option B Dallas, TX
Southern Methodist University
- Net price / year
- $40,892
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,354
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
Southern Methodist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $163,568 in 5.5 years versus 5.8 years at Texas Woman's University, on median earnings of $78,354 vs $56,544 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Texas Woman's University | Southern Methodist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,963 | $40,892 |
| Total net cost | $47,852 | $163,568 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,544 | $78,354 |
| Median debt | $19,218 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $115,828 | $436,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Texas Woman's University or Southern Methodist University?
Texas Woman's University, at $11,963 a year after aid versus $40,892 — a gap of $28,929 a year, or $115,716 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 Woman's University or Southern Methodist University graduates earn more?
Southern Methodist University graduates report a median $78,354 ten years after entry, $21,810 more than the $56,544 at Texas Woman's 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 Woman's University or Southern Methodist University?
Texas Woman's University: its completers carry a median $19,218 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Southern Methodist University, a difference of $282. 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 49% at Texas Woman's 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.