2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to The University of Texas at Tyler

Open-data reference.

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

Your School

The University of Texas at Tyler

Tyler, Texas · Public

$13,323
Net Price
$57,053
Median Earnings (10yr)
94.0%
Acceptance Rate
50.9%
Graduation Rate

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

The University of Texas at Tyler posts an average net price of $13,323 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 Tyler across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $8,759, achieved by California State University-San Bernardino at $4,564. 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 Tyler’s $57,053, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $63,030.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$8,759
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
76%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

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 Top 5 1. California State University- $60k 2. University of Missouri-Kansa $60k 3. California State University- $61k 4. University of California-Mer $64k 5. California State University- $62k Compared to The University of Texas at Tyler: $57k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA · Public Better Value
$4,564 -$8,759 $59,977 54.8% 76%
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO · Public Better Value
$13,310 -$13 $59,637 55.7% 73%
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA · Public Better Value
$7,000 -$6,323 $61,244 55.9% 71%
University of California-Merced
Merced, CA · Public Better Value
$11,983 -$1,340 $64,368 68.9% 70%
California State University-Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA · Public Better Value
$9,849 -$3,474 $62,152 52.4% 64%
California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA · Public Better Value
$9,320 -$4,003 $71,401 46.7% 63%
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · Public Better Value
$12,278 -$1,045 $68,077 50.3% 63%
California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA · Public Better Value
$6,067 -$7,256 $63,188 55.6% 62%
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public Better Value
$6,555 -$6,768 $62,951 69.7% 61%
Marion Military Institute
Marion, AL · Public Better Value
$8,627 -$4,696 $59,644 N/A 58%
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public Better Value
$10,229 -$3,094 $62,908 54.4% 55%
Central School of Practical Nursing
Norfolk, VA · Public Better Value
$8,029 -$5,294 $59,399 N/A 55%
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · Public Better Value
$9,492 -$3,831 $59,649 57.3% 53%
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA · Public Better Value
$12,885 -$438 $65,986 59.1% 51%
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · Public Better Value
$9,338 -$3,985 $64,876 56.1% 51%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, graduate 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 Tyler 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 Tyler?
We found 15 schools similar to The University of Texas at Tyler that cost less. The closest match is California State University-San Bernardino with 76% similarity and a net price of $4,564.
What is the ROI of attending The University of Texas at Tyler?
The University of Texas at Tyler has an average net price of $13,323. Graduates earn a median of $57,053 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 4.3x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than The University of Texas at Tyler for less money?
Yes — 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. California State University-San Bernardino costs $4,564 (saving $8,759) with median earnings of $59,977.
What is the cheapest alternative to The University of Texas at Tyler?
The most affordable similar school is California State University-San Bernardino at $4,564, saving $8,759 compared to The University of Texas at Tyler. It has a 76% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $63,030 compared to The University of Texas at Tyler's $57,053. 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.