Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Texas Tech University #86 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $66,144, placing Texas Tech University in the 70.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Texas Tech University sits in the 70.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $3,067 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Texas Tech University's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of graduate earnings that outpace what similar students achieve at comparable institutions, anchored by strength in business and related fields. The university combines that earnings performance with broad access and a public-tuition cost structure, making it a strong option for students seeking durable financial outcomes at a large public research university in Texas.
Azimuth ranks Texas Tech University #86 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University enrolls roughly 32,394 undergraduates. Retention stands at 85.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 68.7%, reflecting solid degree completion for a large research institution anchored in West Texas. Where Texas Tech University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Texas Tech University #434 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $66,144, and earn about $3,067 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Texas Tech University in the 70.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, and the university's broad mix of business, engineering, and health-sciences degrees helps drive those outcomes. Mobility sits in the 96.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, supported by a student body where 27.8% receive Pell Grants and 32.4% are first-generation college students. Access sits in the 85.2 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an admission rate of 72.7% reflecting a broad-access posture. Affordability sits in the 61.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — a position shaped by public-tuition pricing and the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay after aid.
Texas Tech University's published cost of attendance is $27,443, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $12,457 per year in net price, middle-income families pay around $17,058, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,622. Azimuth ranks Texas Tech University #549 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. Texas Tech participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between published cost and what most families actually pay reflects the university's broad financial aid reach. As a large public research university in Lubbock, Texas, Texas Tech University combines in-state tuition advantages with need-based grant programs that reduce out-of-pocket costs for qualifying students. Families seeking a fuller picture of the net price versus sticker price gap will find that Texas Tech's net prices — particularly for low- and middle-income students — compare favorably with many institutions at similar academic scale. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,443; 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 $66,144, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Texas Tech University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, engineering, and applied professional fields who want a large public research university in TX with a clear path to solid post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn about $3,067 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Texas Tech University in the 70.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, and median earnings four years after enrollment are $66,144, placing Texas Tech University in the 70.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Business — representing 20% of degrees — means students whose interests align with that field will find the strongest outcomes here. 27.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.4% are first-generation students, and Texas Tech University delivers completion rates of 60.4% for Pell-eligible students — a signal that the university supports access-oriented students through to graduation. Median student debt at graduation is $21,500, a figure worth weighing against the earnings trajectory. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix favors applied and professional fields over research-intensive or humanities-oriented ones, and higher-income families pay a net price of $24,622, so cost sensitivity varies meaningfully by income band. Students whose academic interests align with Business and related fields, and who want a large campus with broad employer reach in the South, will find Texas Tech University a well-matched option.
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
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This is the Texas Tech University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Wisconsin-Madison Similar quality tier (#4188 ranked) | WI | 45% | $73,792 | #4188 | Compare |
Wayne State University Similar quality tier (#4187 ranked) | MI | 81% | $53,493 | #4187 | Compare |
Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College Similar quality tier in Southwest (#4186 ranked) | LA | 73% | $61,251 | #4186 | Compare |
University Of Virginia-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#4184 ranked) | VA | 17% | $86,863 | #4184 | Compare |
University Of Houston-Downtown Similar quality tier in Southwest (#4183 ranked) | TX | 90% | $53,551 | #4183 | Compare |
Petroleum Engineering
43 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
252 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
69 graduates
Construction Engineering
17 graduates
Chemical Engineering
96 graduates
Texas Tech University's program mix is led by Business, which accounts for 20% of degree output, followed by Engineering at 10% and Social Sciences at 5%. That business-heavy concentration shapes the institution's earnings profile: Business Administration is the largest program by combined enrollment and earnings scale, graduating 456 students annually with median earnings of $75,702 four years after enrollment.
Across 68 programs serving roughly 6,874 students annually, 51 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The strongest early-career earnings come from Artificial Intelligence, where 252 graduates earn $113,062 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #36 nationally for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Mechanical Engineering follows at $98,113, with Azimuth ranking it #40 nationally for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Finance program graduates 274 students and earns $86,795, while Business Administration posts $75,702 from a cohort of 456.
Among the largest programs, Family and The Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General program graduates 363 students with earnings of $56,117, and Digital Marketing graduates 339 with earnings of $72,953. Several of Texas Tech University's high-earning programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes — particularly in engineering and applied business fields.
The Programs like Psychology, General, which program graduates 303 students earning $53,051, feed regional and national employer pipelines in energy, agriculture, and technology sectors anchored in West Texas and beyond. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides broader context for how these program families align with national hiring trends, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates individual programs. ```
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Texas Tech University's published cost of attendance is $27,443, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $12,457 per year in net price, middle-income families pay around $17,058, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,622.
Azimuth ranks Texas Tech University #549 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.
Texas Tech participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between published cost and what most families actually pay reflects the university's broad financial aid reach. As a large public research university in Lubbock, Texas, Texas Tech University combines in-state tuition advantages with need-based grant programs that reduce out-of-pocket costs for qualifying students.
Families seeking a fuller picture of the [net price versus sticker price gap](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) will find that Texas Tech's net prices — particularly for low- and middle-income students — compare favorably with many institutions at similar academic scale. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,443; 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 $66,144, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 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 Texas Tech University earn median earnings of $53,400 four years after enrollment, placing Texas Tech University in the 75th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $55,000 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn below expectations, placing the institution in the 40th percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent returns relative to Texas's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,000, the state median earnings of working adults age 25 to 34 with only a high school credential.
While institution-level earnings track Texas's regional labor market, specific programs deliver stronger outcomes. Azimuth ranks Petroleum Engineering 5th nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $104,000 four years after enrollment — 1.6x the national benchmark for the field.
Engineering is the dominant program family, accounting for 18% of degrees, followed by Business at 15% and Health Professions at 10%. Among the largest programs, General Studies graduates 1,200 students annually with median earnings of $41,700, and Azimuth ranks it 1,000th nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The Accounting program graduates 300 students with median earnings of $54,800, while Mechanical Engineering — a smaller cohort of 200 graduates — delivers median earnings of $73,800 four years after enrollment, with Azimuth ranking it 200th nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
