Engineering at Schreiner University

With 88% of students getting in but 44% needing Pell grants, Schreiner serves a largely middle-class student body in a field known for strong returns. The estimated $26,459 in debt—drawn from similar private universities—sits slightly above what engineering graduates typically carry at Texas schools ($22,944 median), though it's virtually identical to the national norm. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 suggests manageable payments, assuming the $67,911 first-year salary estimate holds true for Schreiner's specific program.

Here's the catch: both figures come from peer institutions because Schreiner's engineering cohort is too small to generate published outcomes data. Texas engineering programs show considerable variation—TCU graduates start around $74,000 while Mary Hardin-Baylor graduates begin closer to $64,000—and without Schreiner's actual track record, you're essentially betting that their outcomes will mirror the national average rather than underperform it. That's particularly relevant for a relatively new or small engineering program where employer connections and curriculum maturity can significantly impact starting salaries.

If your child is drawn to Schreiner's small classes and Hill Country setting, ask direct questions: Where do recent engineering graduates work? Which companies recruit on campus? What percentage pass the FE exam? Without those program-specific indicators, you're making a decision in the dark, even if the estimated numbers look reasonable on paper.