Apparel and Textiles at Auburn University

Auburn's Apparel and Textiles program lands right in the middle of the pack nationally, with first-year graduates earning $37,329—essentially matching the national median. Within Alabama, it performs slightly better, ranking in the 60th percentile among the state's limited options. The more promising signal is the 24% earnings growth trajectory, with graduates reaching $46,150 by year four, suggesting the program builds skills that increase in value with experience.

The debt picture is reasonable at just under $24,000, translating to a 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio that won't strangle a new graduate's budget. That's slightly better than the national debt median for this major, though not dramatically so. For context, Auburn admits half its applicants and draws mostly from Alabama families (only 12% receive Pell grants), which means you're paying for a flagship university experience that delivers about what you'd expect for this field.

The practical reality: This degree won't make anyone rich quickly, but it provides a stable entry point into the fashion and textile industry with manageable debt. If your child is genuinely interested in this field and plans to stay in Alabama or the Southeast—where Auburn's network is strongest—this represents a solid, if unspectacular, investment. The earnings growth pattern suggests those who stick with the industry see meaningful salary progression.