Management Information Systems and Services at Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State's MIS program starts graduates at $47,676—about $12,000 below the Texas median and $12,000 below the national average. While that ranks only 16th percentile nationally, it places in the middle of the pack (40th percentile) among Texas programs, where competition from UT Austin ($86,622) and Texas A&M ($71,032) sets a high bar. The $20,699 debt load is actually lighter than both state and national medians, giving graduates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43.

The 25% earnings growth over four years is encouraging, bringing graduates to $59,574 by year four—essentially catching up to national and state averages. For an 85% admission rate school serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients, this represents solid mobility outcomes. The gap to top Texas programs remains significant, but the trajectory shows graduates aren't stuck at entry-level positions.

For families who can't access UT or A&M, this program offers a middle path: below-average debt, middle-of-the-pack starting salaries that improve meaningfully, and tech-adjacent career preparation. You're trading immediate earning power for accessibility and reasonable debt, with the understanding that year-one earnings don't tell the whole story. Just recognize your graduate will likely need those first few years to reach competitive compensation levels.