Engineering Physics at Stephen F Austin State University

At first glance, Stephen F Austin's Engineering Physics program appears weak—the $52,715 starting salary ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for this degree. However, the Texas context tells a different story. Among the eight schools offering this program in the state, SFA sits right at the median, meaning half of Texas engineering physics programs deliver the same or worse outcomes. The real challenge here is that Texas engineering physics programs collectively underperform the national standard by nearly $5,000.

The debt load of $27,375 is actually manageable, translating to a 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio that's better than many engineering programs nationally. Graduates should be able to handle loan payments on their starting salary. The concern is whether that salary grows enough over time to justify passing on stronger engineering physics programs in other states, where typical starting salaries exceed $60,000.

The small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—adds uncertainty to these figures. A few outliers could swing the numbers significantly in either direction. For families committed to staying in Texas and choosing between in-state options, SFA performs competitively. But if your student is willing to consider out-of-state programs, the national data suggests they could start their career earning $10,000+ more annually elsewhere, which compounds significantly over a career.