Marketing at Prairie View A & M University

The numbers here tell two conflicting stories that parents need to understand. Prairie View graduates start significantly behind—earning $37,493 while the typical Texas marketing graduate makes $44,000—but they're carrying $33,000 in debt, roughly $10,000 more than the state median. That initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88 means nearly a full year's salary going toward student loans, which is uncomfortably high for an already below-average starting salary.

The positive spin is real income growth: earnings jump 36% by year four, reaching $50,889. That's genuine career progression and brings graduates closer to competitive levels. However, this still lags behind stronger Texas programs like UT Austin ($59,428) and even the state median for marketing degrees. Being in the 40th percentile statewide means more Texas marketing programs produce better outcomes than worse ones.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so one particularly successful or struggling cohort could skew everything. For families considering this program, understand that you're likely taking on above-average debt for below-average early earnings, with recovery dependent on career momentum that may or may not materialize. The school serves a predominantly low-income student body (62% on Pell grants), which is admirable, but if your family has access to other Texas marketing programs with stronger placement records, the financial case for Prairie View becomes harder to justify.