Texas A&M University ranks first in return on investment when compared to other public institutions in Texas, according to PayScale.

Return on investment is what a graduate earns compared to typical college costs incurred. PayScale researches and compares average salaries and publishes the lists. The most important component in PayScale’s numerical rankings is the total cumulative estimated net salary for 30 years, totaling $816,000 for A&M.

The report calculates the net return on investment by taking in consideration how much more a graduate would make than a high school graduate more than 30 years and subtracting the “sticker price” of the college. For A&M, the in-state costs of $88,540 for an undergraduate degree were used. The resulting figure is multiplied by the college’s graduation rate. Texas A&M has a 12.7 percent return on investment.

Texas A&M ranks 71 nationally out of 842 colleges and universities and is ranked higher than many top-rated schools, including MIT and Cal Tech. PayScale put out a survey in 2009 that showed Texas A&M graduates earn higher salaries midway through their careers, earning $95,000 annually.

Sarah Ammerman, staff writer