Business Administration, Management and Operations at Texas A & M International University

Texas A&M International's business program graduates earn just $31,624 in their first year—30% below the Texas median for business degrees and landing in the bottom 5% nationally. While the debt load of $14,375 is refreshingly low (less than half what typical Texas business students carry), the earnings are so constrained that you're still looking at a 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio. To put this in perspective, graduates from UT Austin's business program earn more than double ($66,289) what TAMIU students make.

The 23% earnings growth to $38,837 by year four helps, but doesn't fundamentally change the picture. Even after four years, graduates earn less than what many business programs deliver immediately after graduation. The university serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body in Laredo, which may explain both the modest debt and the local employment market's limited salary potential. If your child plans to stay in the Laredo area where cost of living is lower, these numbers work differently than if they're competing for jobs in Dallas or Houston.

The bottom line: This program offers an affordable path to a business degree, but the earnings ceiling appears significantly lower than what you'd find at other Texas public universities. For families prioritizing minimal debt above all else, that trade-off might make sense—but understand you're accepting substantially below-average earning potential even by Texas standards.