Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks West Texas A & M University #460 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $55,166 four years after enrollment, placing West Texas A & M University in the 25.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks West Texas A & M University #435 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. West Texas A & M University combines solid graduate earnings with strong post-graduation affordability, reflecting a public-tuition structure that keeps debt levels manageable relative to what graduates earn. The institution's composite ranking reflects a consistent balance across return, affordability, and mobility — making it a reliable option for students seeking durable financial outcomes at a West Texas public university.
Azimuth ranks West Texas A & M University #460 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Canyon, TX, West Texas A & M University enrolls roughly 6,917 undergraduates. Freshman retention stands at 69.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 55.0%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks West Texas A & M University #902 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $55,166, and earn about $3,127 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing West Texas A & M University in the 70.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Business, which shapes both the institution's degree output and the career pathways most graduates follow. Access and affordability provide additional context for the composite position. West Texas A & M University enrolls 41.1% Pell Grant recipients and 39.4% first-generation students, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture that serves a wide range of family backgrounds. Affordability sits in the 69.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, access in the 68.6 percentile, and mobility in the 80.0 percentile — a profile that positions West Texas A & M University as a regionally grounded institution delivering solid financial outcomes for students who might otherwise face limited higher-education options in the TX Panhandle.
West Texas A&M University's published cost of attendance is $23,482. Net price varies meaningfully by family income: low-income families pay approximately $16,525, middle-income families pay around $19,268, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,439. Azimuth ranks West Texas A&M University #435 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap helps families evaluate true out-of-pocket cost. West Texas A&M University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based support. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and family circumstances, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,719; 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 $55,166, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
West Texas A & M University is a strong fit for students in TX and the surrounding region who want a business-oriented public university with accessible admissions and a clear path to solid post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn about $3,127 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing West Texas A & M University in the 70.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,166, placing West Texas A & M University in the 25.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 41.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.4% are first-generation — and West Texas A & M University sits in the 51.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. For families managing costs, median student debt at graduation is $19,500, and higher-income families pay a net price of $23,439. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align there will find the strongest outcomes, while those drawn to research-intensive or highly specialized disciplines may find a better match elsewhere.
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 West Texas A & M University 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.
West Texas A&M University's published cost of attendance is $23,482. Net price varies meaningfully by family income: low-income families pay approximately $16,525, middle-income families pay around $19,268, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,439.
Azimuth ranks West Texas A&M University #435 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap helps families evaluate true out-of-pocket cost.
West Texas A&M University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based support.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and family circumstances, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,719; 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 $55,166, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 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 West Texas A & M University earn median 4-year earnings of $55,166, placing West Texas A & M University in the 25.0th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,127 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing West Texas A & M University in the 70.5th percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks West Texas A & M University #902 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 39.1st percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect a career trajectory that builds steadily through the early years after graduation, with earnings growth continuing through the decade.
Business is the dominant program family at West Texas A & M University, representing Business of degrees and anchoring the institution's economic profile. General Studies is the largest program with 173 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,618, performing at 0.9x the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field.
The Interdisciplinary Studies program graduates 154 students earning $49,241 four years after enrollment, while Nursing and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General round out the top programs with four-year earnings in the $79,583 and $51,397 range respectively. The concentration in business and professional fields produces a graduate population where most pathways align with regional labor-market demand and mid-career compensation in the $49,000–$80,000 range.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of New Hampshire-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#15373 ranked) | NH | 88% | $66,479 | #15373 | Compare |
State University Of New York At Plattsburgh Similar quality tier (#15378 ranked) | NY | 78% | $56,403 | #15378 | Compare |
The College Of New Jersey Similar quality tier (#15386 ranked) | NJ | 62% | $73,323 | #15386 | Compare |
University Of Central Arkansas Similar quality tier in Southwest (#15365 ranked) | AR | 89% | $45,938 | #15365 | Compare |
University Of Missouri-St Louis Similar quality tier (#15397 ranked) | MO | 63% | $53,037 | #15397 | Compare |
Mechanical Engineering
35 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
126 graduates
Computer Science
16 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
80 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
78 graduates
West Texas A & M University's program mix centers on business, professional services, and applied fields — a portfolio aligned with the institution's identity as a career-focused private college. General Studies is the largest program with 173 graduates annually, followed by Interdisciplinary Studies, Nursing, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, and Business Administration.
Business represents 20% of degrees, with Arts and Engineering providing additional breadth across 43 programs. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied professional fields.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $79,583 four years after enrollment across 126 graduates, while Business Administration graduates earn $71,979 and Finance graduates earn $66,534. Business/Commerce, General and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General round out the institution's highest-earning programs with $60,430 and $51,397 respectively.
These outcomes reflect the concentration of enrollment in business and professional-services fields where graduates move directly into the workforce. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways rather than graduate-school-dependent tracks.
Business, accounting, nursing, and applied professional majors dominate the degree output and earnings distribution, positioning West Texas A & M University as a practical, outcomes-focused institution for students seeking stable early-career earnings. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
