Business Administration, Management and Operations at St. Mary's University

St. Mary's business program sits right in the middle for Texas—at the 40th percentile—but that's still below what you'd expect from $27,000 in debt. Starting earnings of $39,105 trail both the state median ($44,084) and national median ($45,703) by about $5,000, though growth to $43,532 after four years suggests graduates do gain traction. The debt load itself is reasonable and typical for Texas business programs, but the earnings don't quite justify it when you could potentially find stronger options at schools like Texas State or UT Arlington that deliver better returns at similar or lower costs.

One important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers may not reflect the typical experience. St. Mary's serves a substantial population of first-generation students (42% receive Pell grants), and outcomes for students from these backgrounds can look different than traditional metrics suggest—factors like family support obligations or career choices prioritizing stability over maximum earnings matter but don't show up in the data.

For parents weighing this investment, the question is whether St. Mary's specific advantages—smaller classes, Catholic mission, San Antonio connections—outweigh the financial gap. If your student has admission to UT Austin or Texas State's business programs, those would deliver stronger earnings. But if St. Mary's environment is the right fit and you can minimize borrowing, the steady growth trajectory and manageable debt make it workable rather than problematic.