Est. Earnings (1yr)
$52,836
Est. from TX median (15 programs)
Median Debt
$15,637
35% below national median

Analysis

Texas A&M-Central Texas graduates leave with just $15,637 in debt—among the lowest 5% nationally for MIS programs and $5,000 below the Texas median. That's meaningful when similar programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $52,800, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 that most families would find manageable.

The tradeoff appears in the earnings potential. While peer MIS programs in Texas typically start graduates near $53,000, the state's flagship institutions—UT Austin, Texas A&M College Station, and Baylor—report outcomes $18,000 to $34,000 higher. This gap likely reflects both the regional job market in Killeen and differences in employer recruiting patterns. For students targeting major tech hubs like Austin or Dallas, that earnings difference could compound over time.

But context matters here: with a 100% admission rate and 48% of students on Pell grants, Central Texas serves students who might not access those flagship programs. The light debt burden means graduates aren't locked into maximum-earning jobs immediately—they have flexibility to build careers without crushing monthly payments. For a working adult or first-generation student in the Killeen area, this represents a practical path into tech without the financial risk that comes with heavier borrowing.

Where Texas A&M University-Central Texas Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all management information systems and services bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Management Information Systems and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (40 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Texas A&M University-Central TexasKilleen$6,627$52,836*—$15,637—
The University of Texas at AustinAustin$11,678$86,622*$96,963$19,0000.22
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station$13,099$71,032*—$19,5000.27
Baylor UniversityWaco$54,844$70,873*$93,275$24,0000.34
University of HoustonHouston$9,711$65,574*$75,533$16,7500.26
University of North TexasDenton$11,164$64,441*$77,222$20,9700.33
National Median—$59,490*—$24,0000.40
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with management information systems and services graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:
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 Texas A&M University-Central Texas, approximately 48% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 15 similar programs in TX. Actual outcomes may vary.