Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at Texas A&M University-College Station

Texas A&M's naval architecture program graduates earn $20,000 less than the national median in their first year—a substantial gap that places them in just the 5th percentile nationally. While earnings do grow to $89,344 by year four, that's still well below what graduates from top programs command. The problem isn't the debt load ($22,243 is reasonable), but rather that A&M graduates are competing for the same jobs as peers from schools like Michigan and Webb Institute, who start at significantly higher salaries.

The state context offers little comfort here since A&M is the only Texas school offering this program, making the 60th percentile ranking meaningless. What matters is that naval architecture is a specialized field with limited job markets, and A&M grads appear to be at a disadvantage compared to graduates from coastal programs with stronger industry connections. The moderate sample size suggests relatively few students choose this path, which makes sense given the better opportunities elsewhere.

For a Texas student committed to naval architecture, A&M may be the convenient in-state option, but the earnings data suggests they'll likely need to relocate for top positions anyway. If your child is serious about this field, compare job placement specifics and consider whether programs closer to major shipyards might justify higher tuition through better starting salaries.