Finance and Financial Management Services at Abilene Christian University

Abilene Christian's finance program starts modestly but builds into something genuinely impressive. That $53,590 starting salary sits right at the national median, but four years later, graduates are earning nearly $79,000—a 47% jump that reflects strong career momentum. Among Texas finance programs, this places ACU in the 60th percentile, outperforming the state median despite being one of the more affordable options in the region.

The debt picture reinforces the value story. At $22,406, graduates owe less than both the national and Texas medians for finance programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 that's manageable from day one. Compare this to top-tier programs like SMU or UT Austin, where graduates earn more initially but likely carry significantly higher debt loads. ACU graduates can start building wealth earlier while still reaching competitive mid-career earnings.

The real question is whether your student needs that prestigious name on their resume or prefers a more practical launch pad. If they're self-motivated and willing to hustle through those early career years, ACU's combination of reasonable debt and strong earnings growth makes this a solid financial choice—especially for families prioritizing affordability without sacrificing outcomes.