Austin College
#4 Best Biology Colleges in TexasBottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.0 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Biology Colleges in Texas.
Every $1 spent returns $22.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,775,590.
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What The Data Says
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduates earn 50% more than the national college median.
Social mobility rate of 2.28% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Every $1 invested returns $22.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Austin College Matters
Austin College is a private liberal arts college in Sherman, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,165
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI · 66
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose Austin College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 48% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1100–1310. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $21,107 a year after grants and scholarships — 23% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $61,296 ten years after enrolling — 50% above the typical college, against $24,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 21% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.71 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Austin College is a great fit for students who value a close-knit community and a liberal arts education. With an enrollment of 1,165, it offers a personalized experience where students can delve into programs like Biology, Business, Psychology, and Health Professions. The acceptance rate of 48% suggests that while the college is selective, it welcomes a diverse range of applicants eager to engage in a supportive academic environment.
Graduates of Austin College see solid outcomes, with a median earnings figure of $61,296 ten years after graduation. This is a promising indication that students are well-prepared for the job market. The affordability of the college is notable, and with 31% of students receiving Pell Grants, there's a commitment to supporting those from lower-income backgrounds. While mobility data isn't available, the earnings suggest that many graduates successfully navigate their careers.
When it comes to finances, the net price after aid stands at $21,107, making it relatively manageable for many families. The median debt of $24,500 aligns with this pragmatic approach to higher education. Students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate a blend of academic rigor and personal connection, ready to engage deeply with their studies and contribute to the community.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Austin College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Austin College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Austin College, located in Sherman, Texas, reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 48%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,212. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Austin College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Austin College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $48,680 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $21,107 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,528 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,500.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Austin College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Austin College earn a median of $61,296, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Austin Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Austin College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Austin College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,107/year ($84,428 total). Graduates earn $61,296 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,860,018 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,775,590 (22.0× your investment). The median debt is $24,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Austin College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Austin College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.28%, among the highest in the country. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 39.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $109,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Austin College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Austin College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Austin College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Austin College, located in Sherman, Texas, reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 48%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,212. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Austin College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Austin College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $48,680 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $21,107 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,528 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,500.
Is Austin College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Austin College earn a median of $61,296, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Austin College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Austin College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.28%, among the highest in the country. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 39.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $109,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Austin College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Austin College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.71 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 26% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Austin College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Austin College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Austin College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.71 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 26% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note