Head-to-head · 2026
South Texas College vs The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Compare average net price ($1,751 at South Texas College; $4,831 at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), ROI score (52.52 vs 25.68), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($36,788 vs $49,620), and admissions context (Open / not reported at South Texas College; 94.2% at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | South Texas College | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 52.52 ✓ | 25.68 |
| Avg net price | $1,751 ✓ | $4,831 |
| 4-year avg net price | $7,004 ✓ | $19,324 |
| In-state tuition | $4,920 | $9,987 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $7,620 | $19,827 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $36,788 | $49,620 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | 94.2% |
| Graduation rate | 27.3% | 50.9% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 58.5% | 81.1% ✓ |
| Median debt | — | $12,950 |
| Enrollment | 15,856 | 28,666 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | 985 |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | South Texas College | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $1,395 ✓ | $3,785 |
| Family income $30–48k | $1,651 ✓ | $3,877 |
| Family income $48–75k | $3,841 ✓ | $5,665 |
| Family income $75–110k | $5,274 ✓ | $7,972 |
| Family income $110k+ | — | $13,782 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | South Texas College | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 6.4% | 8.9% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 5% | 6.7% |
| Biology, General | 2.6% | 8.6% |
| Psychology, General | 2.6% | 6.8% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 5.2% | 3.5% |
| Social Work | 2% | 4.6% |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 0.9% | 5% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 5.7% | 0.1% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
South Texas College reports the lower average net price by $3,080 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $12,320 difference over four years ($7,004 vs $19,324).
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reports $12,832 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($49,620 vs $36,788). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 58.5% at South Texas College and 81.1% at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Debt data is incomplete for at least one school, so it is not used as a deciding signal here.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
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Frequently asked
South Texas College vs The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
South Texas College is cheaper — average net price $1,751 per year vs $4,831 at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The annual difference of $3,080 adds up to about $12,320 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $49,620 vs $36,788 at South Texas College. The gap in the federal data is $12,832. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.