Animal Sciences at Angelo State University

Angelo State's Animal Sciences program shows first-year earnings of $28,820—well below both the national median ($34,073) and Texas median ($30,877) for this field. While it ranks at the 40th percentile among Texas programs, that still means graduates here earn about $7,000 less annually than those from Texas A&M's program and trail most other in-state options. With modest debt of $19,183 (resulting in a manageable 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio), students aren't overleveraged, but they're starting their careers at a significant earnings disadvantage.

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift considerably year to year. That said, the pattern is concerning enough to warrant comparison shopping. Animal sciences graduates typically need graduate degrees or specialized certifications to advance, so starting $5,000+ below your peers means playing catch-up from day one. For families considering this program, the question isn't whether the debt is manageable—it is—but whether beginning your career this far behind the pack makes strategic sense when stronger in-state alternatives at Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Sam Houston State are readily available and may offer similar admission accessibility.