Apparel and Textiles at Tarleton State University

The estimated $24,750 in debt for this bachelor's degree represents nearly 70% of what similar apparel and textiles graduates typically earn in their first year—a manageable starting point by national standards. When programs nationally report around $37,000 in first-year earnings, the debt burden usually doesn't become overwhelming, though it's worth noting that fashion and textile careers rarely offer explosive salary growth in the early years. The University of Texas at Austin, Texas's flagship program in this field, reports nearly identical outcomes at $37,245, suggesting these figures reflect realistic expectations for the Texas market.

What matters here is whether your child has genuine career clarity. Apparel and textiles degrees lead to specific roles—merchandising, product development, textile design—where starting salaries cluster tightly regardless of where you study. The estimated monthly loan payment of roughly $275 on a $37,000 salary is workable but leaves little room for error if your graduate takes unpaid internships or entry-level retail positions that many in this field do initially. The narrow earnings range across programs (just $4,000 separates the median from the 75th percentile nationally) tells you this isn't a field where prestige drives compensation.

If your child is pursuing this degree as a focused career path with industry connections or internship plans already developing, the debt-to-earnings picture looks reasonable. If it's a general "interested in fashion" decision, that same debt becomes riskier when paired with the field's modest earning potential.