Business, Management, Marketing, at Southwest University at El Paso

Southwest University at El Paso's business program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: it performs at the Texas state median for earnings ($36,583 in the first year), but that's the 13th percentile nationally—meaning 87% of business programs nationwide produce better outcomes. The debt load tells the other half of the story: at $53,230, it's more than double the national median of $26,000 and ranks in the bottom 5% nationally. You're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.46, where the typical business graduate elsewhere carries half as much debt.

The earnings trajectory adds to the concern. Rather than growing with experience, median earnings actually drop to $33,676 by year four. With 79% of students receiving Pell grants, this institution clearly serves students who need affordable pathways to middle-class careers—but the debt burden may undermine that mission. A student borrowing the full median amount would face monthly payments around $600 on a salary that starts at $36,583, leaving little room for financial stability.

For families considering this program, the question isn't whether business skills have value—it's whether this particular combination of debt and earnings makes sense. Unless your child has substantial scholarship support to bring that debt down significantly, the math here creates a difficult starting point for building financial security after graduation.