Location: Stephenville, TX•In-State Tuition: $7,878•Out-of-State Tuition: $17,958•Admission Rate: 94%•Avg SAT: 1068
Median Earnings (1yr)
$38,622
5th percentile
25th percentile in Texas
Median Debt
$21,388
20% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.55 ManageableSample: 36 graduates

Analysis

Tarleton State's HR program starts graduates at $38,622—well below both the Texas median ($48,552) and national average ($50,361)—but something notable happens over the next few years. Earnings jump 45% to $55,952 by year four, eventually matching the national 75th percentile. This trajectory places it in the bottom quartile of Texas HR programs initially, yet graduates ultimately reach competitive mid-career earnings comparable to UT Dallas and UT San Antonio.

The $21,388 debt load is reasonable and slightly below the Texas median, creating a manageable 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio even with the modest starting salary. For a family focused on minimizing debt while their student establishes a career, this represents a lower financial risk than programs with similar outcomes but higher borrowing.

The question is whether your child can weather those lean first couple of years. If they're comfortable living frugally post-graduation or have family support during the launch phase, the strong earnings growth makes this a viable path. But if they need immediate earning power—say, to become financially independent right away—the initial $38,622 could feel constraining, especially compared to Baylor or UIW graduates starting $20,000+ higher.

Where Tarleton State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services bachelors's programs nationally

Tarleton State UniversityOther human resources management and services programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Tarleton State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Tarleton State University earns $39k — 5th percentile among human resources management and services bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Tarleton State University$38,622$55,952+45%
Baylor University$62,562$67,847+8%
University of the Incarnate Word$58,499$61,967+6%
Texas A&M University-College Station$51,664$59,917+16%
University of North Texas$45,745$58,324+27%

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (23 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Tarleton State UniversityStephenville$7,878$38,622$55,952$21,3880.55
Baylor UniversityWaco$54,844$62,562$67,847$20,4750.33
University of the Incarnate WordSan Antonio$35,660$58,499$61,967$36,0070.62
University of Phoenix-TexasDallas—$57,983$51,907$50,4700.87
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio$8,991$56,961$53,030$22,7220.40
The University of Texas at DallasRichardson$14,564$51,732—$19,5000.38
National Median—$50,361—$26,6250.53

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Tarleton State University, approximately 37% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 36 graduates with reported earnings and 42 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.