Architecture at Baylor University

Baylor's architecture program falls right at the Texas median based on peer institutions, with estimated first-year earnings of $42,799—though this trails the national median by nearly $4,300 and sits well below what graduates from UT Austin ($56,327) and University of Houston ($49,388) typically command. The estimated $28,419 in debt is actually higher than both the state and national medians for architecture programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that, while manageable at 0.66, offers less cushion than you'd want at a program charging more than its in-state competitors.

The financial picture becomes clearer when you consider that architecture graduates in Texas typically start in the low-to-mid $40,000s, making this a field where first-job earnings rarely justify premium tuition. The debt burden here exceeds what students at comparable Texas programs carry, despite landing at similar salary levels. For a selective private university (51% admission rate, 1313 SAT average), you'd hope for stronger placement outcomes that justify the investment.

If your child is set on architecture, the numbers suggest looking hard at Texas public universities where debt loads run $5,000-10,000 lower and earnings outcomes are comparable or better. Without actual graduate data from Baylor's program specifically, you're betting on outcomes that peer programs suggest will be solid but unremarkable—and paying more for that bet than you would elsewhere in the state.