Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Sul Ross State University #614 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Sul Ross State University sits in the 66.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Sul Ross State University #827 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Sul Ross State University's composite ranking reflects its balance of access and mobility working together. Graduates earn about $1,952 more than similar students at comparable institutions, while the institution's mobility ranking highlights outcomes for its broad-access student population.
Azimuth ranks Sul Ross State University #614 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 58.5 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university located in Alpine, TX, Sul Ross State University enrolls roughly 1,396 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 44.9% freshman retention rate and a 29.9% six-year graduation rate. Sul Ross State University is anchored in access and affordability. 57.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 46.3% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student population drawn from families with limited prior college experience. The institution's broad-access admissions posture and regional tuition structure position it as an affordable pathway to a degree for students in West Texas and beyond. Return on investment sits lower in the composite. Azimuth ranks Sul Ross State University #1127 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 23.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median earnings four years after enrollment place Sul Ross State University in the 10.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings figures reflect the regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree baseline, even where they fall below selective-peer averages. Sul Ross State University's strength in Business and other career-focused fields supports students into stable employment pathways aligned with local and regional workforce demand.
Sul Ross State University's published cost of attendance is $24,529. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $11,110, middle-income families pay around $11,261, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,279. Azimuth ranks Sul Ross State University #104 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. Sul Ross State University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans. As a public regional university, the institution's tuition structure is designed to keep costs accessible for Texas residents and students from surrounding regions. Financial aid packages combine institutional, state, and federal sources to help close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,900, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $8,000; 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 $49,811, median federal debt of $15,900 projects to a monthly payment of about $180 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Sul Ross State University is a public university in Alpine, TX that serves students seeking a regional education with a focus on business and applied fields — a good fit for students who want a small-campus experience in TX and for those from low-income or first-generation backgrounds looking for an institution that delivers measurable post-graduation value. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $49,811, placing Sul Ross State University in the 10.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,952 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 66.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 57.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 46.3% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Sul Ross State University in the 43.4 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Published cost of attendance is $20,279, and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $11,110 after need-based aid. Sul Ross State University's program portfolio is concentrated in Business — students interested in these fields will find strong regional rankings and earnings outcomes. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 98.7% admit rate makes the application process broadly accessible, and the program mix favors applied fields over research-oriented ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the region.
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.
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This is the Sul Ross State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
33 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
22 graduates
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
7 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
51 graduates
Psychology, General
49 graduates
Sul Ross State University's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission in West Texas. Criminal Justice is the largest program with 51 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Business/Commerce, General, Teacher Education, and Kinesiology.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 360 students annually, the institution concentrates its degree output in Business (representing 18% of graduates), Education (11%), and other STEM fields (2%). The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied professional and business-adjacent fields.
Kinesiology graduates earn median earnings of $57,658 four years after enrollment, while Business Administration graduates earn $49,510 and Criminal Justice graduates earn $42,239. Psychology, General rounds out the highest-earning cluster with graduates earning $42,185.
These outcomes reflect Sul Ross's positioning as a regional public university where applied business, education, and health-related fields drive both enrollment scale and direct workforce entry. The program portfolio supports students pursuing stable, regionally grounded careers in business administration, education, and applied health fields.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with labor-market demand in the South and Southwest regions where most Sul Ross graduates remain employed.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Sul Ross State University's published cost of attendance is $24,529. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $11,110, middle-income families pay around $11,261, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,279.
Azimuth ranks Sul Ross State University #104 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.
Sul Ross State University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans. As a public regional university, the institution's tuition structure is designed to keep costs accessible for Texas residents and students from surrounding regions.
Financial aid packages combine institutional, state, and federal sources to help close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,900, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $8,000; 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 $49,811, median federal debt of $15,900 projects to a monthly payment of about $180 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 Sul Ross State University earn median 4-year earnings of $49,811, placing Sul Ross State University in the 10.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,952 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Sul Ross State University in the 66.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Sul Ross State University #1127 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 23.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These figures represent lifetime returns relative to TX's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,626 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential).
The earnings pattern centers on Business. Criminal Justice is the largest program with 51 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $42,239, at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field.
The Psychology, General program graduates 49 students earning median 4-year earnings of $42,185, at 0.8x the national benchmark. Business/Commerce, General and Teacher Education round out the top programs by enrollment, with Kinesiology delivering median 4-year earnings of $57,658 at 1.1x the national benchmark.
This concentration in Business fields reflects the institution's academic focus and aligns with strong regional employer demand in West Texas.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla Similar quality tier (#20288 ranked) | PR | 81% | $27,997 | #20288 | Compare |
Eastern Connecticut State University Similar quality tier (#20289 ranked) | CT | 83% | $56,469 | #20289 | Compare |
Gordon State College Similar quality tier (#20274 ranked) | GA | 86% | $37,871 | #20274 | Compare |
South Carolina State University Similar quality tier (#20819 ranked) | SC | 83% | $38,262 | #20819 | Compare |
Auburn University At Montgomery Similar quality tier (#20825 ranked) | AL | 92% | $44,391 | #20825 | Compare |
