Denton, Texas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Denton, Texas: median public in-state tuition $9,974 (+81.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $56,777 (+4.4% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $19,218 (+44.8% vs U.S.) 43,336 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 43,336 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $9,974 (+81.0% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,777 (+4.4% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 90.6% (+2.6 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $15,649 (+57.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $19,218 (+44.8% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 54.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 73.1%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Denton serve students across Texas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 43,336 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $9,974. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Denton, Texas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Denton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denton, Texas | $9,974 | $15,649 | $19,218 | 54.9% | 43,336 |
| Texas (state median) | $3,555 | $8,031 | $10,652 | 45.0% | 1,240,605 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Denton, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denton, Texas | $56,777 | 90.6% | 73.1% | 6.2% | — | 68.5% | 0.34 |
| Texas (state median) | $54,338 | 89.8% | 69.6% | 6.9% | — | 69.4% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denton, Texas | $9,974 | $15,649 | $19,218 | 54.9% | 43,336 | $56,777 | 90.6% |
| Houston | $12,445 | $19,626 | $11,533 | 46.7% | 137,452 | $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 | $17,692 | $22,774 | $12,785 | 50.0% | 62,146 | $42,797 | 87.6% |
| Dallas | $17,692 | $22,774 | $12,785 | 50.0% | 62,146 | $42,797 | 87.6% |
| Dallas | $17,692 | $22,774 | $12,785 | 50.0% | 62,146 | $42,797 | 87.6% |
| Fort Worth | $11,934 | $24,181 | $15,500 | 31.5% | 57,100 | $61,238 | 90.7% |
| El Paso | $9,744 | $16,242 | $11,000 | 65.5% | 50,598 | $50,923 | 89.2% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in Denton, Texas by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 60.7%, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
-
Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 49.1%, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
Top 2 colleges in Denton, Texas by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 90.9%, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 90.4%, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
Top 2 most selective colleges in Denton, Texas (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 72.2%, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 96.1%, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
Top 2 colleges in Denton, Texas by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $78,714, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $76,344, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
Top 2 colleges in Denton, Texas by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $109,151, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $89,115, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
Top 2 colleges in Denton, Texas by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,773, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $46,304, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
Top 2 colleges in Denton, Texas by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,209, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $51,890, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
Top 2 colleges in Denton, Texas by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $57,010, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,544, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
Top 2 colleges in Denton, Texas by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $202,578, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $180,506, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Denton, Texas (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $11,963, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $15,649, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
Top 2 colleges in Denton, Texas by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 76.6%, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
-
Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 69.5%, Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
In-state tuition: Denton, Texas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Denton, Texas median in-state tuition is $9,974, +81.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Denton, Texas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Denton, Texas is $19,218 (+44.8% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Denton, Texas vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Denton, Texas center around $56,777 (+4.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Denton, Texas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.6% at the median Denton, Texas campus (+2.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
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
Denton, Texas median public in-state tuition is $9,974, about +81.0% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +170.6%.
Median graduate debt is $19,218 (+44.8% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Denton, Texas are $56,777, about +4.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 90.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+2.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 73.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.2% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 68.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of North Texas (90.9%), Texas Woman's University (90.4%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Denton, Texas is 54.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Denton?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Denton, Texas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Denton?
Median in-state tuition in Denton is $9,974 and median net price is $15,649. For Texas overall, medians are $3,555 and $8,031; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Denton?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Denton is $56,777 vs $54,338 for Texas and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Denton colleges?
Median completer debt in Denton is $19,218 vs $10,652 for Texas and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Denton?
Top campuses on this page include University of North Texas (graduation) and University of North Texas (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Denton?
Among 3 campuses in Denton, Texas, 3 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include University of North Texas, Texas Woman's University, and Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Denton.
Sources & related
- Texas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON