USAFA vs. Texas A&M

Deciding between United States Air Force Academy and Texas A&M University College Station? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

United States Air Force Academy
Texas A&M University College Station

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USAFA USAF Academy, Colorado
  • Texas A&M College Station, TX
  • Setting
  • USAFA Large City
  • Texas A&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • USAFA 4,114
  • Texas A&M 78,321
  • Type
  • USAFA Public 4 Year
  • Texas A&M Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USAFA
  • Texas A&M #120
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USAFA -
  • Texas A&M -
  • Status
  • USAFA Non-profit
  • Texas A&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USAFA
  • Texas A&M
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USAFA $0
  • Texas A&M $13,154
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USAFA $0
  • Texas A&M $40,124
  • Room & Board
  • USAFA $0
  • Texas A&M $13,008
  • Average Net Price
  • USAFA -
  • Texas A&M $21,437
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USAFA $0
  • Texas A&M $12,580
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USAFA 0%
  • Texas A&M 56%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USAFA 10,187
  • Texas A&M 54,669
  • Admitted
  • USAFA 1,435
  • Texas A&M 31,397
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USAFA 14.1%
  • Texas A&M 57.4%
  • Enrolled
  • USAFA 78.5%
  • Texas A&M 39.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USAFA 1340
  • Texas A&M 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • USAFA 29
  • Texas A&M 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • USAFA 3.81
  • Texas A&M 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USAFA A-
  • Texas A&M A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • USAFA Very High
  • Texas A&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • USAFA Very High
  • Texas A&M Low
  • ACT Range
  • USAFA 26/33
  • Texas A&M 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • USAFA 1230/1440
  • Texas A&M 1150/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USAFA Required
  • Texas A&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USAFA Dec 31, 2026
  • Texas A&M Dec 1, 2026
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USAFA 7:1
  • Texas A&M 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USAFA
    • Engineering (35%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Texas A&M
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Agriculture (10%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USAFA -
  • Texas A&M 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USAFA N/A
  • Texas A&M $65,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USAFA -
  • Texas A&M 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USAFA N/A
  • Texas A&M $18,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USAFA N/A
  • Texas A&M $193
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USAFA 70%
  • Texas A&M 53%
  • % Women
  • USAFA 30%
  • Texas A&M 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USAFA -
  • Texas A&M Medium
  • HBCU
  • USAFA No
  • Texas A&M No
  • % White
  • USAFA 0%
  • Texas A&M 65%
  • % Asian
  • USAFA 0%
  • Texas A&M 6%
  • % Black
  • USAFA 0%
  • Texas A&M 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • USAFA 0%
  • Texas A&M 22%
  • % Native American
  • USAFA 0%
  • Texas A&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USAFA 0%
  • Texas A&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USAFA 0%
  • Texas A&M 3%
  • % International
  • USAFA 0%
  • Texas A&M 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USAFA 0%
  • Texas A&M 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USAFA 6%
  • Texas A&M 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USAFA 91%
  • Texas A&M 5%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • USAFA Yes
  • Texas A&M Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • USAFA Yes
  • Texas A&M No
  • Meal Plan
  • USAFA Yes
  • Texas A&M Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • USAFA No
  • Texas A&M No
  • Daycare Facility
  • USAFA No
  • Texas A&M Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Air Force Academy in USAF Academy, Colorado with Texas A&M University College Station in College Station, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Texas A&M University College Station is larger than USAFA based on total student enrollment (78,321 students vs. 4,114 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • United States Air Force Academy is located in USAF Academy, Colorado (Large City setting); Texas A&M University College Station is in College Station, TX (Small City setting).
  • United States Air Force Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas A&M University College Station is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Air Force Academy 7:1; Texas A&M University College Station 20:1.

USAFA vs. Texas A&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USAFA or Texas A&M? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between Texas A&M University College Station and USAFA ($13,154.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Texas A&M and United States Air Force Academy ($40,124.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas A&M University College Station than at United States Air Force Academy (56% vs. 0%).

USAFA vs. Texas A&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USAFA or Texas A&M? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Texas A&M and USAFA.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at United States Air Force Academy (1340) is 60 points higher than at Texas A&M (1280).
  • Incoming USAFA students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Texas A&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: United States Air Force Academy 1230/1440; Texas A&M University College Station 1150/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: United States Air Force Academy 26/33; Texas A&M University College Station 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USAFA - Required; Texas A&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USAFA Dec 31, 2026; Texas A&M Dec 1, 2026.
  • Enrolled freshman USAFA students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Texas A&M (3.68).
  • Texas A&M has a higher acceptance rate (57.4%) than USAFA (14.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 78.5% at USAFA vs. 39.9% at Texas A&M.

USAFA vs. Texas A&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USAFA and Texas A&M? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Texas A&M University College Station's six-year graduation rate is 81%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for USAFA.
  • Graduates from Texas A&M University College Station have median earnings of about $65,600 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for USAFA.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.