Real Estate at Baylor University

Baylor's real estate program produces graduates earning nearly $58,000 their first year out—solidly above both national and Texas medians, though you'll want to recognize the small sample size here (fewer than 30 graduates tracked). That positions it as the second-highest earner among Texas programs, trailing only TCU's $68,000 but well ahead of UNT and UT San Antonio. The $20,500 in typical debt translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, meaning graduates owe about 4 months of their first-year salary—a manageable burden by most standards.

The caveat is real: with such a small graduating class, one or two outliers could significantly shift these numbers either direction. That said, the pattern makes sense given Baylor's overall academic profile and the advantage of Texas's robust real estate market, particularly in growing metro areas. First-year earnings in real estate can vary considerably based on whether graduates enter residential sales, commercial brokerage, or property management, so individual outcomes will depend heavily on career path and location choice.

For parents weighing this investment, the fundamentals look reasonable—middle-of-the-pack debt paired with above-average starting earnings in a state with no income tax. Just don't treat these figures as gospel given the sample constraints, and consider whether your student has genuine interest in the field, since real estate success often hinges on self-motivation and networking ability more than classroom credentials.