Marketing at Tarleton State University

Tarleton State's marketing program lands right at the Texas median for graduates, with first-year earnings of $39,058 that climb to $45,687 by year four. While this 17% earnings growth is solid, the starting salary trails both the state median ($43,941) and national median ($44,728) by about $5,000. That gap matters: you're paying similar debt ($22,303 versus $22,130 state median) but earning less out of the gate. The program ranks in just the 19th percentile nationally but hits the 40th percentile in Texas—suggesting it's competitive with other regional options, even if it can't touch the $60,000+ starting salaries at UT Austin or Baylor.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 is manageable, meaning graduates owe about seven months' salary. Given Tarleton's 94% admission rate and the fact that over a third of students receive Pell grants, this program serves a different population than the elite Texas schools. For families prioritizing accessibility and reasonable debt over maximizing starting salary, this works. But if your student has options at more competitive Texas programs, the $4,000-$5,000 annual earnings difference compounds quickly over a career. The key question is whether the tradeoff between accessibility and earning potential aligns with your family's priorities and your child's academic profile.