University of North Texas
#3 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Texas- Graduation Rate
- 60% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $57,010 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $15,649 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 72% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.7 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Texas.
Every $1 spent returns $23.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,420,130.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 40% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.2%
- Top 76%
- Patents
- 31
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 58
- Downstream influence
Why University of North Texas Matters
University of North Texas is a public research university in Denton, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. 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
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 34,341
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Psychology, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose University of North Texas
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
Competitive — admits about 72% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 980–1230. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,649 a year after grants and scholarships — 9% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $57,010 ten years after enrolling — 40% above the typical college, against $19,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 50% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.57 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 34,000 students, the University of North Texas in Denton, TX, is a vibrant place for those interested in fields like Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, and Psychology. The school's acceptance rate of 72% suggests it welcomes a diverse range of applicants, making it a fitting choice for students seeking a supportive environment where they can explore various disciplines while fostering their passions.
After graduation, students can expect their hard work to pay off. With a median earning of about $57,010 ten years post-graduation, many find a stable career path that allows them to thrive. Affordability plays a role, too; around 38% of students receive Pell Grants, which is a strong indicator of the school's commitment to helping those from lower-income backgrounds. This financial support can help ease the transition into the workforce.
When we look at the bottom line, the net price for students after financial aid is around $15,649, while the median debt upon graduation stands at $19,250. These figures suggest a manageable financial landscape for many students, particularly those who are proactive about seeking aid. Those who tend to thrive here are often self-motivated and engaged, ready to make the most of their educational experience in a community that values both academic achievement and personal growth.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of North Texas 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 University of North Texas? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Denton, Texas, University of North Texas admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 72%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,109. The graduation rate is roughly 60%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 72%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1109
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 980–1230
- ACT Range
- 19–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 72%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,092
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 23:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.75
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 32,016
- Admitted
- 25,335
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of North Texas is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 22% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 22%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 40%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 8%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 48% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 University of North Texas? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of North Texas is $21,149, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,649. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,311 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $11,309
- Out-of-State
- $21,149
- Avg Net Price
- $15,649
- Median Debt
- $19,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 38%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 36%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,311
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,668
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,473
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,943
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of North Texas — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of North Texas Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of North Texas earn a median of $57,010, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,304
- 8 Years
- $51,890
- 10 Years
- $57,010
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.34x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,565)
- 37%
- 100% (1,565)
- 37%
- 100% (1,565)
- 37%
- 100% (1,565)
- 37%
How University 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 University of North Texas Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of North Texas delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,649/year ($62,596 total). Graduates earn $57,010 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,482,726 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,420,130 (23.7× your investment). The median debt is $19,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 60% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $62,596
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,482,726
- Net Return
- $1,420,130
- ROI Multiple
- 23.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,649
- Median Debt
- $19,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 60%
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 University of North Texas Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of North Texas 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 1.46%, well above the typical college. About 6.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.46%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 22.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $134,099
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of North Texas produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 31 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.20%
- Top 76% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 31
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 58
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of North Texas awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 19% $71,565 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 9% $46,265 early-career
- Psychology 8% $36,660 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $73,977 early-career
- Communications 6% $41,612 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $37,196 early-career
- Humanities 5% $44,923 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $56,154 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of North Texas's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of North Texas? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Denton, Texas, University of North Texas admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 72%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,109. The graduation rate is roughly 60%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of North Texas? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of North Texas is $21,149, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,649. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,311 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,250 in federal student loans.
Is University of North Texas Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of North Texas earn a median of $57,010, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does University of North Texas Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of North Texas 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 1.46%, well above the typical college. About 6.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of North Texas? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of North Texas. Its economic connectedness score is 1.57, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does University of North Texas offer Early Decision?
No. University of North Texas does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is University of North Texas really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 48% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of North Texas (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of North Texas?
About 22% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of North Texas — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of North Texas.
- University of HoustonHouston, TX · Close peer65% grad $62,377 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX · Close peer56% grad $56,906 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX · Close peer68% grad $62,454 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA · Close peer50% grad $57,552 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL · Close peer74% grad $59,221 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA · Close peer70% grad $61,251 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of North Texas? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of North Texas. Its economic connectedness score is 1.57, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note