Location: College Station, TX•In-State Tuition: $13,099•Out-of-State Tuition: $40,328•Admission Rate: 63%•Avg SAT: 1272
Median Earnings (1yr)
$71,409
95th percentile
80th percentile in Texas
Median Debt
$16,880
28% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.24 ManageableSample: 145 graduates

Analysis

Texas A&M's finance program punches well above its weight in the Texas market. Starting at $71,409, graduates earn 36% more than the typical Texas finance major and rank in the 80th percentile statewide—trailing only the more selective UT Austin and SMU while matching or exceeding outcomes from TCU and Baylor. The trajectory looks even better by year four, when median earnings reach $91,000, a 27% jump that suggests strong career progression in banking, corporate finance, or financial services.

The financial equation here is remarkably straightforward: $16,880 in median debt against $71,000 in starting salary produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in three months of gross salary. That's less than half the national median debt for finance programs. With A&M's relatively accessible 63% admission rate, this represents one of the clearest value propositions in Texas finance education—elite-level outcomes without private school debt or Ivy League selectivity.

The only consideration is whether your child can secure admission to UT Austin, which delivers $10,000 higher starting salaries. Otherwise, A&M's combination of strong recruiting relationships, lower debt burden, and proven earning power makes it a straightforward choice for students targeting finance careers in Texas or beyond.

Where Texas A&M University-College Station Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

Texas A&M University-College StationOther finance and financial management services programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Texas A&M University-College Station graduates compare to all programs nationally

Texas A&M University-College Station earns $71k — 95th percentile among finance and financial management services bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Texas A&M University-College Station$71,409$90,976+27%
Southern Methodist University$83,159$113,839+37%
The University of Texas at Austin$81,844$95,994+17%
Texas Christian University$78,453$90,933+16%
Baylor University$67,909$86,622+28%

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (59 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station$13,099$71,409$90,976$16,8800.24
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas$64,460$83,159$113,839$19,5000.23
The University of Texas at AustinAustin$11,678$81,844$95,994$20,5000.25
Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth$57,220$78,453$90,933$19,5000.25
University of Phoenix-TexasDallas—$70,963$59,017$48,4690.68
Baylor UniversityWaco$54,844$67,909$86,622$23,0000.34
National Median—$53,590—$23,3320.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/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:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/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 Texas A&M University-College Station, approximately 19% 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 145 graduates with reported earnings and 148 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.