GradROI
ROI Comparison · 2026

UT Austin McCombs vs Texas A&M Mays

UT Austin McCombs and Texas A&M Mays are both Texas public MBAs. McCombs is higher-ranked (top-25), larger, and tilted toward tech + consulting. Mays is cheapest (~$38k in-state) with a 16-month format and strong Texas energy + ag industry alumni (Aggie Network).

Head-to-Head: Key Metrics

MetricUT Austin McCombsTexas A&M Mays
Tuition (per year)$57,100$38,000Better
Median Starting Salary$140,000Better$120,000
10-Year Net ROI (est.)$280,000Better$250,000
Acceptance Rate27.0%60.0%Better
Duration2 years1.3 yearsBetter
US News Ranking#22Better#45

Green highlight = better on that metric. Tuition: lower is better. Salary/ROI: higher is better. Acceptance: higher = easier to get in. Duration: shorter = less opportunity cost.

Who Should Choose Which?

Texas tech career (Meta Austin, Tesla, Oracle)

→ UT Austin McCombs: McCombs's Austin tech cluster access is the strongest public-school MBA in tech.

Texas energy / ag / Aggie-network career

→ Texas A&M Mays: Mays's Aggie Network is the largest single-university alumni network in the US — Texas industry doors open with it.

National recruiting aspirant

→ UT Austin McCombs: McCombs has broader national brand recognition; Mays's recruiting is Texas-heavy.

Strengths & Trade-offs

UT Austin McCombs

Austin-based two-year MBA with strongest Texas + energy industry alumni and growing tech-center placement.

Strengths

  • Austin tech scene = strong placement into Meta, Apple, Tesla, Oracle
  • Lowest tuition in top-25 US MBAs (in-state rate)
  • Energy industry alumni network deepest in US

Trade-offs

  • Out-of-state tuition jumps to $70k+
  • Brand recognition weaker on US coasts
  • Consulting + finance pipelines thinner than top-14
Texas A&M Mays

College Station 16-month MBA with strongest Texas energy + ag alumni and one of the lowest total costs in US top-50.

Strengths

  • Shortest + cheapest top-50 US MBA (16 months, $38k in-state)
  • Aggie Network — largest college alumni network in the US
  • Energy + ag alumni in Texas industry is deep

Trade-offs

  • National recruiting footprint outside Texas is limited
  • Lower median base than top-14 peers
  • Rural College Station location — not for everyone

Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition comparison?

McCombs in-state: $57,100/year. Mays in-state: $38,000/year. Mays is dramatically cheaper.

Starting salary?

McCombs: ~$140k median base. Mays: ~$120k median base. McCombs is ~17% higher.

Program duration?

McCombs: 2 years. Mays: 16 months. Mays's shorter format saves opportunity cost.

Which has higher ROI?

Mays, measured purely on $-in / $-out — lower tuition + shorter duration + solid Texas placement. McCombs wins on brand + broader geographic flexibility.

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