Accounting at Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's accounting graduates start significantly behind their peers, earning just $39,412 in their first year—well below both the state median of $49,406 and the national median of $53,694. This program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile within Texas, where top programs like UT Austin and Texas A&M College Station produce graduates earning nearly $70,000 right out of the gate. That $10,000 gap compared to the typical Texas accounting grad compounds year after year.

The strong 40% earnings growth to $55,200 by year four helps narrow the gap somewhat, and the debt load of $26,750 isn't catastrophic given the moderate first-year earnings. But even with that growth trajectory, graduates remain firmly in the bottom quarter of Texas accounting programs. The school's 89% admission rate and below-average test scores suggest the university serves a different student population than the state's elite programs, which may partly explain the earnings differential.

For families considering this program, understand that you're choosing a slower launch. If your child needs to work during school or values staying close to the coast, that tradeoff might make sense. But if they can gain admission to UT Austin, Texas A&M College Station, or similar programs—and afford to attend—those alternatives would likely deliver an extra $200,000+ in lifetime earnings despite similar debt levels.