Head-to-head comparison
University of Houston-Clear Lake vs Texas A&M University-Victoria: which has better ROI?
Option A Houston, TX
University of Houston-Clear Lake
- Net price / year
- $15,563
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,004
- Payback
- 5.8 yrs
Option B Victoria, TX
Texas A&M University-Victoria
- Net price / year
- $8,109
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,467
- Payback
- 5.3 yrs
Texas A&M University-Victoria has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $32,436 in 5.3 years versus 5.8 years at University of Houston-Clear Lake, on median earnings of $54,467 vs $59,004 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Houston-Clear Lake | Texas A&M University-Victoria |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,563 | $8,109 |
| Total net cost | $62,252 | $32,436 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,004 | $54,467 |
| Median debt | $17,831 | $18,973 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 5.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $150,628 | $89,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Houston-Clear Lake or Texas A&M University-Victoria?
Texas A&M University-Victoria, at $8,109 a year after aid versus $15,563 — a gap of $7,454 a year, or $29,816 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 University of Houston-Clear Lake or Texas A&M University-Victoria graduates earn more?
University of Houston-Clear Lake graduates report a median $59,004 ten years after entry, $4,537 more than the $54,467 at Texas A&M University-Victoria. 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, University of Houston-Clear Lake or Texas A&M University-Victoria?
University of Houston-Clear Lake: its completers carry a median $17,831 in federal loans versus $18,973 at Texas A&M University-Victoria, a difference of $1,142. 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?
52% of students finish at University of Houston-Clear Lake, against 26% at Texas A&M University-Victoria. 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.