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Liberal Arts and Sciences: American Public University System vs The University of Texas at Austin

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
American Public University System
Charles Town, WV
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
In-State
17.6x
$33,600 tuition
12.7x
$46,712 tuition
Out-of-State
17.6x
$33,600 tuition
3.5x
$171,112 tuition
$592,027 10-yr earnings · Private for-profit
$592,022 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

American Public University System The University of Texas at Austin
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.6x 12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 17.6x 3.5x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,600 $46,712
Year 1 Earnings $62,059 $45,243
10-Year Earnings $592K $592K
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 52/100 43/100

Both programs have low AI automation risk (0% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.

American Public University System The University of Texas at Austin
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,600 $46,712
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $33,600 $171,112
10-Year Projected Earnings $592K $592K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.6x 12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 17.6x 3.5x

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Liberal Arts and Sciences (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

American Public University System The University of Texas at Austin
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $592K $592K $567K $592K $592K $567K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 17.6x 17.6x 16.9x 12.7x 12.7x 12.1x
DegreeWorth Score 52 52 54 42 43 45

For the full AI analysis of Liberal Arts and Sciences career paths, see the American Public University System or The University of Texas at Austin program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$13,112
American Public University System saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$16,816/yr
American Public University System grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
17.6x / 12.7x
Out-of-state: 17.6x / 3.5x

Career Paths

Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490 13,500 +1.8% 0%
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Explore Each Program

Liberal Arts and Sciences at American Public University System → Liberal Arts and Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin →

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Liberal Arts and Sciences Overview

View all schools offering Liberal Arts and Sciences →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Liberal Arts and Sciences: American Public University System or The University of Texas at Austin?
American Public University System scores 52/100 while The University of Texas at Austin scores 43/100. American Public University System has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Liberal Arts and Sciences?
American Public University System has an in-state earnings multiple of 17.6x vs The University of Texas at Austin's 12.7x. That means American Public University System grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do American Public University System and The University of Texas at Austin compare on Liberal Arts and Sciences earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $62,059 at American Public University System vs $45,243 at The University of Texas at Austin. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $592,027 vs $592,022 — a difference of $5.
How much does Liberal Arts and Sciences cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $33,600 at American Public University System and $46,712 at The University of Texas at Austin. Both programs lead to the same Liberal Arts and Sciences career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.