Texas A&M combines moderately selective admissions with exceptional post-graduation outcomes. As a Selective Achievers institution, the university produces $6,494 in earnings beyond expectations while maintaining debt levels below peer medians, supporting sustained economic advancement for graduates across diverse fields.
With an excellent tier rating, driven by strong long-term earnings relative to educational investment and debt levels
Around the national average, reflecting moderate costs balanced against strong outcomes
With a strong tier designation, indicating above-average enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students for an institution of this selectivity level
With an exceptional tier designation, reflecting the university's outstanding ability to deliver earnings growth and economic advancement
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Top 25 nationally for economic mobility
Texas A&M University-College Station ranks #22 nationally in Azimuth's comprehensive analysis, with mobility performance at the 99.4th percentile earning the exceptional tier designation. Located in College Station, Texas, this large public research university maintains moderately selective admission standards with a 63.2% acceptance rate while delivering outstanding post-graduation outcomes.
Texas A&M enrolls 19.2% Pell-eligible students and 30.0% first-generation students, demonstrating solid access alongside strong academic standards. Graduates earn $6,494 beyond expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 78.3rd percentile nationally.
Median earnings reach $72,097 ten years after enrollment, placing Texas A&M in the 88th percentile for long-term earnings outcomes. Compared to a peer median of $60,543, graduates earn $11,554 more annually.
This combination of moderate selectivity, controlled costs, and strong economic outcomes places Texas A&M within the Selective Achievers quadrant, where institutions deliver exceptional results while serving students with stronger academic preparation.
Texas A&M delivers exceptional return on investment through strong earnings outcomes achieved with manageable debt levels. Graduates earn a median of $72,097 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 88th percentile nationally and well above the peer median of $60,543.
Earnings range from $48,234 at the 25th percentile to $106,337 at the 75th percentile, reflecting diverse career paths across engineering, business, and agricultural programs. The institution generates $6,494 in earnings beyond expectations, placing it in the 78.3rd percentile nationally on this measure and demonstrating strong value creation for students.
Students seeking strong engineering and business programs at a major public research university with robust alumni networks. Best for those comfortable with large institutional environments who value Texas A&M's combination of academic rigor, moderate selectivity, and exceptional post-graduation economic outcomes across diverse fields.
Texas A&M admits approximately 63.2% of applicants, meaning roughly 3 in 5 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places Texas A&M in the moderately selective category, making it more accessible than highly selective institutions while maintaining meaningful admission standards.
The peer median admission rate of 78.1% shows that Texas A&M is notably more selective than typical public research universities, admitting 14.8 percentage points fewer applicants than peers. This level of selectivity means that students should demonstrate solid academic preparation but can approach the application process with reasonable confidence if their credentials align with admitted student profiles.
Unlike highly selective institutions where even exceptional students face uncertainty, Texas A&M's admission rate allows well-prepared students to view it as a realistic target rather than a reach school. Students should still build balanced college lists that include options with higher acceptance rates, but Texas A&M represents an achievable goal for students with strong academic records.
The sections below provide detailed academic profiles and alternative schools for students seeking different selectivity levels or similar outcomes with varying admission requirements.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Texas A&M's published cost of attendance reaches $32,085 annually, including $40,328 in out-of-state tuition (or $13,099 for Texas residents), $13,154 for room and board, and $900 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays just $20,924 after financial aid, representing savings of $11,161 from the sticker price.
At $20,924, the average net price sits $5,334 higher than the peer median of $15,590, indicating costs above typical public research universities but still substantially below the full cost of attendance. The net price varies significantly by family income, ranging from $12,273 for families earning under $30,000 to $29,548 for families earning over $110,000.
This $17,275 spread demonstrates Texas A&M's progressive financial aid structure that concentrates support toward lower-income families while requiring higher-income families to pay closer to full costs. The substantial gap between sticker price and net cost reflects the university's commitment to making education accessible despite higher published prices, with financial aid effectively reducing costs for most students while maintaining revenue from full-pay families.
Texas A&M graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth throughout their careers. Median earnings rise from $59,386 six years after enrollment to $66,077 at eight years and $72,097 at ten years, representing 21.4% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes are based on substantial cohorts of 10,140 graduates at six years, 9,463 at eight years, and 9,828 at ten years, providing high confidence in reported figures. Graduates earn $6,494 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Texas A&M in the 78.3rd percentile for earnings uplift and indicating strong institutional value creation.
Low-income graduates earn $66,700, demonstrating that the university produces strong outcomes across diverse economic backgrounds. Earnings span from $48,234 at the 25th percentile to $106,337 at the 75th percentile, reflecting the broad range of career outcomes across Texas A&M's diverse program portfolio.
Approximately 25.5% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both immediate workforce entry and advanced education. The university's strong performance relative to peer institutions highlights its effectiveness in translating educational investment into sustained economic advancement.
Petroleum Engineering.
138 graduates
Chemical Engineering, Other.
221 graduates
Computer Engineering, General.
141 graduates
Commercial Fishing.
81 graduates
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
239 graduates
Texas A&M offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for comprehensive outcome analysis. Chemical Engineering ranks #1 nationally, producing 221 graduates with exceptional median earnings of $105,292 and a perfect value score of 100.0.
Construction Engineering Technology ranks #2 nationally and #1 in Texas, graduating 299 students with median earnings of $91,097 and a value score of 96.8. Exercise Science and Kinesiology ranks #9 nationally and #2 in Texas, with 453 graduates earning $58,417 and demonstrating a value score of 96.2.
Agribusiness ranks #5 nationally and #2 in Texas, graduating 455 students with median earnings of $63,533. Multi-Interdisciplinary Studies represents the university's largest program with 1,153 graduates annually, while Biology General produces 718 graduates with median earnings of $53,216.
Business Administration and Management graduates 550 students with median earnings of $73,138, ranking #62 nationally and #4 in Texas. These programs reflect Texas A&M's strength across engineering, business, agricultural sciences, and interdisciplinary fields.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
California State University-East Bay Higher acceptance rate (33.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CA | 97% | $71,401 | Compare |
Loyola University Chicago Higher acceptance rate (18.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 81% | $71,530 | Compare |
University Of Houston Same state (86 miles away) (earnings difference: 13.5%) and similar program focus; same institution type | TX | 70% | $62,377 | Compare |
Baylor University Same state (79 miles away) with similar earnings and similar program focus | TX | 51% | $65,793 | Compare |
University Of St Thomas Same state (83 miles away) (earnings difference: 17.9%) and similar program focus | TX | 93% | $59,224 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of California-Riverside Similar quality tier (#23 ranked) | CA | 63% | $67,699 | #23 | Compare |
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Texas A & M University-College Station hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/texas-a-m-university-college-station/analysis.
The University Of Texas At Arlington Similar quality tier in Southwest (#20 ranked) | TX | 81% | $63,199 | #20 | Compare |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion Similar quality tier in Southwest (#24 ranked) | AZ | 90% | $62,668 | #24 | Compare |
University Of Central Florida Similar quality tier (#19 ranked) | FL | 40% | $58,308 | #19 | Compare |
University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Similar quality tier (#25 ranked) | IL | 44% | $81,054 | #25 | Compare |