Head-to-head comparison
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas vs Our Lady of the Lake University: which has better ROI?
Option A Austin, TX
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas
- Net price / year
- $26,117
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,222
- Payback
- 36.5 yrs
Option B San Antonio, TX
Our Lady of the Lake University
- Net price / year
- $16,442
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,675
- Payback
- 208.8 yrs
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $104,468 in 36.5 years versus 208.8 years at Our Lady of the Lake University, on median earnings of $51,222 vs $48,675 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Universal Technical Institute-West Texas | Our Lady of the Lake University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,117 | $16,442 |
| Total net cost | $104,468 | $65,768 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,222 | $48,675 |
| Median debt | $14,267 | $24,999 |
| Payback | 36.5 yrs | 208.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$47,228 | -$59,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Universal Technical Institute-West Texas or Our Lady of the Lake University?
Our Lady of the Lake University, at $16,442 a year after aid versus $26,117 — a gap of $9,675 a year, or $38,700 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 Universal Technical Institute-West Texas or Our Lady of the Lake University graduates earn more?
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas graduates report a median $51,222 ten years after entry, $2,547 more than the $48,675 at Our Lady of the Lake 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, Universal Technical Institute-West Texas or Our Lady of the Lake University?
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas: its completers carry a median $14,267 in federal loans versus $24,999 at Our Lady of the Lake University, a difference of $10,732. 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-West Texas, against 46% at Our Lady of the Lake 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.