Animal Sciences at Stephen F Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin's Animal Sciences program sits in an interesting middle ground: it underperforms nationally but actually exceeds the Texas state median for this major. Graduates earn $31,059 initially, which places them above the typical Texas animal sciences graduate ($30,877) but below the national benchmark ($34,073). With debt of $21,739—roughly on par with both state and national averages—the program offers a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable but not impressive.

The 13% earnings growth to $35,170 by year four is solid, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions about consistency. For context, this program can't compete with Texas A&M's agricultural powerhouse but performs comparably to regional alternatives like Tarleton State. If your child is committed to staying in Texas and working with animals, SFA provides reasonable preparation without crushing debt.

The real question is career trajectory: animal sciences careers often require additional credentials (veterinary school, graduate work) or pivot into related fields like agricultural business. At this earnings level, graduates have flexibility to pursue further education without being buried in undergraduate debt, which may be the program's strongest practical advantage.