Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Texas A&M-San Antonio serves a predominantly working-class student body—half receive Pell grants—and based on comparable geosciences programs across Texas, graduates here might expect to earn around $44,000 in their first year with roughly $23,000 in debt. That 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable monthly payments, typically around 5-6% of pre-tax income. What's less clear is whether this particular program can match those state averages, since actual outcomes aren't available due to small graduating cohorts.

The estimated figures align almost exactly with Texas medians for geosciences bachelor's programs, which itself sits above the national benchmark of about $40,000. But look at the range among Texas schools with reported data: outcomes span from $43,000 to over $50,000, suggesting program quality and employer connections matter considerably. The stronger programs—particularly Texas Tech and University of Houston-Downtown—produce starting salaries 15-20% higher than the state median, a meaningful difference when you're calculating loan payments.

For families considering this program, the core question is whether A&M-San Antonio's geosciences track can deliver outcomes comparable to the state median it's being compared against. The favorable debt load makes this a lower-risk bet than many bachelor's programs, but with limited track record data, you're banking on a young program at a regional campus matching the performance of more established departments statewide.