Business Administration, Management and Operations at Abilene Christian University

Abilene Christian's business program performs solidly within Texas, landing at the 60th percentile for earnings among the state's 94 business programs—though that still means graduates are earning less than those from UT Austin, TCU, and several other in-state options. The $55,282 four-year earnings figure trails the state's top programs by $10,000-15,000 annually, which compounds to significant differences over a career. The 22% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests steady professional progression, at least in those early years.

The debt picture is more concerning. At $21,500, graduates carry less debt than the national median but still fall into the 79th percentile nationally—meaning 79% of similar programs leave students with less debt. Combined with middle-of-the-pack earnings, this creates a workable but not generous debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. First-year graduates will dedicate roughly half their annual salary to paying off loans if they follow standard repayment schedules.

For families paying the full cost of attendance, this is a reasonable but not exceptional return. You're getting a Texas business degree that performs slightly above the state median at a moderate debt level. If your student has significant scholarship offers from ACU or strong ties to the Abilene region, the math works. But if finances are tight and stronger Texas programs are accessible, those alternatives could deliver $5,000-10,000 more in annual earning power with comparable or lower debt loads.