McAllen, Texas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for McAllen, Texas shows: median public in-state tuition $4,920 (-10.7% vs national median) median graduate debt $8,708 (-35.2% vs U.S.) 17,886 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 7 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 17,886 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $4,920 (-10.7% vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $17,356 (+74.1% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $8,708 (-35.2% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,012
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 27.3%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in McAllen, Texas—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Texas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
McAllen vs Texas & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen, Texas | $4,920 | $17,356 | $8,708 | 27.3% | 17,886 |
| Texas (state median) | $3,555 | $8,031 | $10,667 | 45.2% | 1,239,434 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: McAllen, Texas vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen, Texas | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| Texas (state median) | $54,274 | 89.8% | 69.6% | 6.9% | — | 69.1% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Texas (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen, Texas | $4,920 | $17,356 | $8,708 | 27.3% | 17,886 | N/A | N/A |
| Houston | $13,920 | $19,701 | $12,000 | 46.7% | 137,564 | $59,224 | 87.5% |
| San Antonio | $11,707 | $20,465 | $9,500 | 50.5% | 111,767 | $56,844 | 90.7% |
| Austin | $23,500 | $21,991 | $9,120 | 44.6% | 82,274 | $59,854 | 89.8% |
| Dallas | $17,666 | $22,800 | $13,000 | 45.8% | 62,329 | $42,091 | 86.2% |
| Fort Worth | $11,934 | $24,181 | $15,500 | 31.5% | 57,100 | $61,238 | 90.7% |
| El Paso | $9,744 | $15,578 | $11,000 | 65.5% | 50,606 | $50,923 | 89.2% |
| Denton | $9,974 | $15,649 | $19,218 | 54.9% | 43,336 | $56,777 | 90.6% |
| Lubbock | $20,196 | $21,763 | $12,618 | 60.0% | 35,638 | $62,454 | 92.4% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
In-state tuition: McAllen, Texas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
McAllen, Texas median in-state tuition is $4,920, -10.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: McAllen, Texas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in McAllen, Texas is $8,708 (-35.2% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,012.
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
McAllen, Texas median public in-state tuition is $4,920, about -10.7% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +33.5%.
Median graduate debt is $8,708 (-35.2% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in McAllen, Texas is 27.3% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in McAllen?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 7 campuses in McAllen, Texas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in McAllen?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in McAllen is $4,920 and median net price is $17,356. For Texas overall, medians are $3,555 and $8,031; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in McAllen?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in McAllen is N/A vs $54,274 for Texas and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for McAllen colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in McAllen is $8,708 vs $10,667 for Texas and $13,432 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in McAllen?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 7 campuses in McAllen, Texas, 7 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Miller-Motte College-STVT-McAllen, UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-McAllen, and Vogue College of Cosmetology-McAllen.
Sources & related
- Texas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON