Texas A&M Cited By DOE For Graduate Success, Low Debt

Texas A&M University leads all public institutions of higher education in Texas in median salaries for graduates – and they have the lowest median debt after graduation, according to a new federal government report.

The U.S. Department of Education’s “College Scorecard” shows Texas A&M graduates to have 10-year median earnings of $52,900, which exceed that of all other public universities in the state. Texas A&M’s median college-cost debt for its graduates is $19,213, lowest for any Texas public university – and the only one below $20,000 – according to the federal survey.

Among the state’s major colleges and universities – public or private – only Rice University fared better than Texas A&M.

Writing about a related report on the Department of Education’s “Homeroom” blog, a reporter for Forbes.com posted a story titled “30 Four-Year Schools with High Graduation Rates and Low Cost,” with Texas A&M one of only four public institutions cited.

“At a time when many question the value of a college education relative to the cost of attaining a degree, we are proud to consistently rank at or near the top in surveys that recognize our remarkably affordable costs as well as exceptional career opportunities,” said Texas A&M President Michael K. Young. “These rankings are a direct result of our ongoing focus on providing extraordinarily high-quality academics and opportunities for hands-on research alongside faculty, as well as on leadership development through over 1,000 student-run organizations.”

The “College Scoreboard” and “Homeroom” listings for Texas A&M are similar to “best value” and related findings by such entities as U.S. News & World Report in the “Great Schools, Great Prices” section of its annual college guide, ”Fiske Guide to Colleges” and “Kiplinger’s Best College Values.” The university also fared well in the latest Washington Monthly poll that puts major emphasis on service to the nation and regarding salary-related data compiled by PayScale, an online salary, benefits and compensation information company.