Head-to-head comparison
West Texas A & M University vs McMurry University: which has better ROI?
Option A Canyon, TX
West Texas A & M University
- Net price / year
- $19,487
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,741
- Payback
- 32.7 yrs
Option B Abilene, TX
McMurry University
- Net price / year
- $19,581
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,779
- Payback
- 186.9 yrs
West Texas A & M University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,948 in 32.7 years versus 186.9 years at McMurry University, on median earnings of $50,741 vs $48,779 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | West Texas A & M University | McMurry University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,487 | $19,581 |
| Total net cost | $77,948 | $78,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,741 | $48,779 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 32.7 yrs | 186.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$30,328 | -$69,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, West Texas A & M University or McMurry University?
West Texas A & M University, at $19,487 a year after aid versus $19,581 — a gap of $94 a year, or $376 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 West Texas A & M University or McMurry University graduates earn more?
West Texas A & M University graduates report a median $50,741 ten years after entry, $1,962 more than the $48,779 at McMurry 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, West Texas A & M University or McMurry University?
West Texas A & M University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at McMurry University, a difference of $7,500. 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 West Texas A & M University, against 44% at McMurry 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.