Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Austin College #1013 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,804 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 21.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Austin College #1117 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Austin College #1013 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Sherman, Texas, Austin College enrolls roughly 1,165 undergraduates. Retention is 79.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 67.0%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Where Austin College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Austin College #1117 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,804 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Austin College in the 21.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Business and related fields that lead directly into stable careers with meaningful long-term financial payoff. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Austin College enrolls 30.9% Pell-eligible students and 23.4% first-generation undergraduates, positioning the institution in the 46.0 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability ranks in the 41.5 percentile, reflecting the tuition structure of a private liberal arts college reshaped by need-based aid for qualifying families. For students who gain admission and qualify for aid, Austin College delivers strong long-term financial outcomes relative to the cost of attendance.
Austin College's published cost of attendance is $61,607. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $16,528, middle-income families pay around $18,823, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,470. Azimuth ranks Austin College #834 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Austin College structures aid through need-based grants and federal loan programs. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs, with need-based scholarships available to qualifying students. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,413; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,361, median federal debt of $24,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $277 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Austin College is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private liberal arts college experience in TX. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $57,361, placing Austin College in the 32.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,804 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 21.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 30.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 23.4% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that place Austin College in the 69.9% percentile for Pell completion among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 47.6% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes relative to TX's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,626.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Austin College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Austin College's published cost of attendance is $61,607. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $16,528, middle-income families pay around $18,823, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,470.
Azimuth ranks Austin College #834 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Austin College structures aid through need-based grants and federal loan programs. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs, with need-based scholarships available to qualifying students.
Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,413; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,361, median federal debt of $24,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $277 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Austin College earn median 4-year earnings of $57,361, placing Austin College in the 32.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,804 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Austin College in the 21.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Austin College #1117 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Austin College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 44 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $55,011, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 39 students earning $43,522, while Biology, General with 33 graduates reaches $49,875.
These programs anchor Austin College's economic profile and align with the institution's Business-focused degree portfolio, supporting consistent outcomes across the student body.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dallas Baptist University Higher acceptance rate (44.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 68 miles away; similar graduate earnings | TX | 91% | $56,807 | Compare |
University Of North Texas Higher acceptance rate (25.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 44 miles away; similar graduate earnings | TX | 72% | $57,010 | Compare |
The University Of Texas At Dallas Higher acceptance rate (18.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 47 miles away; similar graduate earnings | TX | 65% | $68,227 | Compare |
University Of St Thomas Higher acceptance rate (46.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | TX | 93% | $59,224 | Compare |
University Of Nevada-Reno Higher acceptance rate (38.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NV | 85% | $60,614 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capital University Similar quality tier (#29368 ranked) | OH | 70% | $54,143 | #29368 | Compare |
Canisius University Similar quality tier (#29378 ranked) | NY | 72% | $60,681 | #29378 | Compare |
Baker College Similar quality tier (#29381 ranked) | MI | 82% | $35,833 | #29381 | Compare |
Roberts Wesleyan University Similar quality tier (#29364 ranked) | NY | 71% | $55,031 | #29364 | Compare |
Moody Bible Institute Similar quality tier (#29363 ranked) | IL | 83% | $45,399 | #29363 | Compare |
Finance and Financial Management Services
26 graduates
Computer Science
9 graduates
Economics
25 graduates
History
20 graduates
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
14 graduates
Austin College's program mix centers on business, social sciences, and liberal arts — a portfolio aligned with the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college in North Texas. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 44 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Biology, General, Finance, and Economics.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 329 students annually, the institution delivers consistent outcomes in applied business and foundational liberal arts fields. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in business and quantitative fields.
Finance leads with median earnings of $81,613 four years after enrollment across 26 graduates, followed by Economics at $67,071 with 25 graduates and American History (United States) at $59,833 with 20 graduates. Interdisciplinary Studies and Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services round out the high-earning tier, delivering $58,913 and $55,168 respectively.
This concentration in applied professional fields reflects Austin College's strength in preparing students for direct entry into stable career pathways. Most of these programs are high-mobility fields where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect regional and national labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Austin College's dominant program families align with labor-market demand in the Texas region and beyond.
