Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to The University of Texas at El Paso

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to The University of Texas at El Paso that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, Texas · Public

$9,403
Net Price
$50,923
Median Earnings (10yr)
99.9%
Acceptance Rate
48.0%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to The University of Texas at El Paso

The University of Texas at El Paso posts an average net price of $9,403 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with The University of Texas at El Paso across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $10,170, achieved by Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at -$767. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above The University of Texas at El Paso’s $50,923, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $53,753.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$10,170
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
71%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Diablo Valley College $51k 2. Las Positas College $51k 3. West Valley College $52k 4. Utah Valley University $55k 5. California State University- $59k Compared to The University of Texas at El Paso: $51k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

A negative College Scorecard net price means the institution reported average grant and scholarship aid above its cost-of-attendance estimate for the covered first-time, full-time aid recipients. It is a cohort average, not a promise that every student is paid to attend.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA · Public Better Value
$8,312 -$1,091 $51,378 47.3% 71%
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA · Public Better Value
$5,377 -$4,026 $51,088 50.7% 61%
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA · Public Better Value
$3,423 -$5,980 $51,688 51.5% 59%
Utah Valley University
Orem, UT · Public Better Value
$6,376 -$3,027 $55,486 43.1% 54%
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public Better Value
$3,967 -$5,436 $59,211 52.8% 53%
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI · Public Better Value
$8,624 -$779 $54,735 47.4% 53%
Trinity Washington University
Washington, DC · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$9,302 -$101 $53,804 46.6% 53%
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA · Public Better Value
$7,000 -$2,403 $61,244 55.9% 52%
Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center
Stollings, WV · Public Better Value
-$767 -$10,170 $51,465 87.1% 52%
Green Country Technology Center
Okmulgee, OK · Public Better Value
$1,062 -$8,341 $51,375 75.6% 52%
Norco College
Norco, CA · Public Better Value
$5,169 -$4,234 $51,206 36.8% 52%
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA · Public Better Value
$8,615 -$788 $57,162 44.6% 51%
George T Baker Aviation Technical College
Miami, FL · Public Better Value
$7,489 -$1,914 $52,312 29.4% 50%
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA · Public Better Value
$6,483 -$2,920 $52,133 33.1% 50%
Shoreline College
Shoreline, WA · Public Better Value
$8,585 -$818 $52,009 28.7% 50%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than The University of Texas at El Paso are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to The University of Texas at El Paso?
We found 15 schools similar to The University of Texas at El Paso that cost less. The closest match is Diablo Valley College with 71% similarity and a net price of $8,312.
What is the ROI of attending The University of Texas at El Paso?
The University of Texas at El Paso has an average net price of $9,403. Former students earn a median of $50,923 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 5.4x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than The University of Texas at El Paso for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Diablo Valley College costs $8,312 (saving $1,091) with median earnings of $51,378.
What is the cheapest alternative to The University of Texas at El Paso?
The most affordable similar school is Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at -$767, saving $10,170 compared to The University of Texas at El Paso. It has a 52% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $53,753 compared to The University of Texas at El Paso's $50,923. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.