Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Texas
Catholic colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Texas3 schools
3 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Texas.
- Catholic undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 8, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 7.1 years
- Earnings $59,224 ten years out
- 2
University of Dallas
Irving, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 9.1 years
- Earnings $58,285 ten years out
- 3
St. Mary's University
San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 9.8 years
- Earnings $56,955 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of St. Thomas | $19,359 | $19,928 | $59,224 | 69% |
| University of Dallas | $22,610 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| St. Mary's University | $21,145 | $25,563 | $56,955 | 59% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.