Accounting at Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View A&M's accounting graduates start at $46,222—below both the Texas median ($49,406) and national average ($53,694)—but the program sits squarely in the middle of Texas accounting programs at the 40th percentile. The real concern isn't the starting salary but the debt load: at $29,061, it exceeds both state and national medians by roughly 25-30%, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 that's manageable but not ideal. The positive news is genuine earnings growth, with salaries climbing 20% to $55,300 by year four, which helps justify the initial investment.

Context matters here. Prairie View serves a predominantly lower-income student body (62% receive Pell grants), and for students who might otherwise struggle to access accounting credentials, this debt level—while above average—remains within reasonable bounds. The program delivers CPA eligibility at a cost structure that won't crush graduates, even if it doesn't offer the salary premium of Texas's elite private schools.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making these figures less reliable than programs with larger sample sizes. For families weighing this option, the four-year earnings trajectory suggests the degree opens doors in Texas's accounting market, though students should plan carefully around that $29,000 debt burden and recognize they're starting behind peers at flagship state schools.