Dance at Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State's dance program ranks dead last among Texas schools for graduate earnings, landing in just the 10th percentile statewide—a significant gap when the typical Texas dance graduate earns $29,634 compared to this program's $27,085 four years out. Even within the modest expectations for dance degrees nationally, these graduates start at $19,202, well below what peers at Texas State ($38,967) or Stephen F. Austin ($33,340) achieve. The $26,000 in typical debt isn't unusually high, but paired with these earnings, it creates a challenging first few years.

The 41% earnings growth from year one to year four offers some reassurance that graduates aren't stuck at entry-level wages forever, and the program serves a predominantly working-class population (40% Pell recipients) who may have limited alternatives. However, the small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates tracked—means these numbers could shift considerably with different cohorts.

For families committed to a dance degree in Texas, this program represents the weakest financial return among state options. Unless there are specific faculty, facilities, or program features that justify the gap, students serious about dance careers would likely benefit from exploring the stronger-performing programs elsewhere in Texas that deliver substantially better earnings outcomes for similar debt loads.