Marketing at St. Mary's University

St. Mary's marketing graduates earn slightly above both the national and Texas medians—landing in the 60th percentile statewide—but the numbers tell an incomplete story given the small sample size of fewer than 30 graduates. That said, the $46,400 starting salary paired with roughly $24,000 in debt creates a manageable 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe about half of what they'll earn in their first year. This is a reasonable starting point for a marketing career, though it falls well short of what top Texas programs deliver (UT Austin graduates earn $59,000, TCU grads pull in nearly $69,000).

The troubling part is the stagnant earnings trajectory: graduates actually earn slightly *less* four years out than they do immediately after graduation. While this could be a data artifact from the small sample, it raises questions about whether this program positions students for career advancement. The 42% Pell grant enrollment and 89% admission rate suggest St. Mary's serves a more economically diverse student body than elite competitors, which adds important context—not every student has access to those higher-earning alternatives.

For a family comfortable with the small sample uncertainty, this program offers reasonable entry-level outcomes without crushing debt. But if your child has the academic profile for UT Austin or similar schools, the earnings premium at those institutions—$13,000+ more annually—would justify the extra effort in applications.