Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State's Health Sciences graduates earn $27,611 in their first year—nearly $5,000 below the Texas median and $8,000 below the national average for this degree. While the 40th percentile ranking among Texas programs might seem middling, it means three out of five similar programs in the state deliver better outcomes. Compare this to top performers like University of the Incarnate Word ($41,126) or UT Rio Grande Valley ($40,655), and you're looking at a nearly $14,000 annual earnings gap.

The debt picture offers modest relief: at $25,000, it matches the Texas median and sits slightly below the national average. This keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.91—manageable but not comfortable given those first-year earnings barely crack $28,000. For context, graduates from Texas A&M's program earn $10,000 more annually while carrying similar debt loads.

The bottom line: this program gets you into the health services field affordably, but you're starting from a financial disadvantage compared to peers across Texas. If Sam Houston State is your in-state option and you're committed to staying local post-graduation, the debt burden won't crush you. But if you have access to the stronger Texas programs—particularly the public universities like Texas A&M or UT Rio Grande Valley—the earnings difference compounds significantly over time and warrants serious consideration.