Finance and Financial Management Services at Lamar University

Lamar's finance program starts significantly behind the curve, with first-year earnings of $36,325 landing in the 10th percentile among Texas finance programs—roughly $16,000 below what other graduates across the state typically earn. That's concerning in a field where early career momentum often determines long-term trajectory, and it places graduates at a substantial disadvantage compared to peers from UT Austin or Texas A&M who start at double that salary.

The program does show strong earnings growth, jumping 54% to $56,053 by year four. This catches graduates up to roughly the state median, suggesting that Lamar alumni can eventually find solid footing in Texas financial markets. The debt load of $21,000 is reasonable and below both state and national medians, which means the slow start doesn't come with crushing monthly payments hanging overhead.

The critical caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers potentially volatile. For families weighing this option, the pattern suggests you're accepting a difficult first few years post-graduation in exchange for manageable debt. If your child has offers from A&M, UT, or even Houston-area programs showing stronger placement numbers, those alternatives warrant serious consideration—the salary gap in those early career years is substantial and may affect everything from apartment options to loan repayment timelines.