Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences at Stephen F Austin State University

Stephen F Austin's Family and Consumer Sciences program sits in an interesting middle ground: it performs well against the national field but lags behind other Texas options. While graduates earn $34,452 in their first year—placing them in the 75th percentile nationally—that same figure falls to just the 40th percentile among Texas programs. Nearby Sam Houston State graduates earn $3,000 more annually, a gap that compounds significantly over a career.

The debt picture looks manageable at $27,500, translating to a 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio that parents can work with. Graduates should be able to handle monthly payments without severe financial strain. However, the modest earnings growth—just 5% over four years—suggests this field's salary trajectory is relatively flat, meaning that initial earnings gap compared to other Texas programs won't close quickly.

For Texas families, this creates a clear calculus: if Stephen F Austin offers substantial tuition savings or your child is already committed to the Nacogdoches area, the program delivers solid national-level outcomes. But if you're comparing in-state options on equal financial footing, programs like Sam Houston State or Texas Tech offer better earning potential for similar debt levels. The accessibility of SFA (88% admission rate) makes it a viable path into this field, just not necessarily the most lucrative one within Texas.