EDsmart: WT Online Bachelor’s Degree Among Most Affordable in Country

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University offers one of the most affordable online degree programs in the country, according to a new analysis from a national education resource.

WT ranks No. 24 out of more than 50 colleges ranked in EDsmart’s list of most affordable colleges. The University ranks No. 3 among all schools in Texas, according to the list.

“West Texas A&M University strives to be a leader in offering students value,” said Dr. Neil Terry, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “We accomplish this through national recognition as an online quality leader, offering high-demand programs with solid job placement or promotion opportunities, and keeping the net cost of attendance well below the national average.”

EDsmart vets schools on its list for quality factors such as student-faculty ratio, freshman retention, published rankings, graduation rate, reputation with employers, financial aid, and online technology. The rankings are based on average net prices; WT’s average price is $12,761.

“The fact that U.S. News & World Report rank most of (WT’s) online programs in the top 100 in the nation and that the tuition is one of the lowest in the country makes this choice a strong competitor,” EDsmart wrote.

In January, U.S. News & World Report ranked WT’s online bachelor’s program No. 1 in Texas and No. 24 in the country.

Previously, EDsmart ranked WT at No. 10 in its list of most affordable online colleges.

While many colleges and universities across the nation raised tuition for 2022-23, WT is committed to remaining affordable and accessible. Through the Buff Promise, WT has committed 100 percent of its available resources to cover fall and spring in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate Texas residents who have an annual family income of $80,000—the median income level for our region—or less.

In addition, WT annually offers more than $32 million in scholarships and grants. And, starting this past May, WT employees and their eligible immediate family members receive 50 percent off tuition and mandatory fees. This blanket tuition and mandatory fee waiver is among the most generous offered by any state college or university in Texas or The Texas A&M University System.

WT’s commitment to being a learner-centered university is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched Sept. 23 — has raised about $110 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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