Human Development, Family Studies, at Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online

The small sample size here demands caution, but the available data suggests this online program faces significant challenges despite strong earnings growth. Starting at just $30,278, graduates earn below both the Texas median ($32,137) and national average ($33,543) for this field. While earnings do climb impressively to $43,979 by year four—outpacing typical growth in this major—that initial salary gap matters when you're carrying $26,000 in debt, slightly above Texas's typical $22,450 for this degree.

Context matters: this is an open-admission online program serving a predominantly lower-income student population (60% Pell recipients), which may explain both the accessibility and the outcomes. The 40th percentile ranking among Texas programs means half of in-state options deliver better starting salaries, including Texas Tech at $39,096 and University of Houston at $37,964. With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift considerably with a larger sample, but the pattern suggests students might secure better financial outcomes at established Texas public universities that also offer lower tuition for state residents.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 is manageable but not comfortable for year-one graduates. For families considering this path, the key question is whether the online format's convenience justifies accepting lower initial earnings than comparable Texas programs while paying similar or higher debt loads.