Social Sciences at Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Texas A&M-San Antonio's Social Sciences program lands graduates in the bottom quarter of earnings for similar programs statewide—at $33,812 first year out, that's $6,400 below the Texas median and roughly $14,000 behind what graduates from UT Rio Grande Valley and Houston-Downtown earn. This is a real financial gap that won't close quickly, especially for a program serving a predominantly working-class population (51% receive Pell grants). The debt load of $18,457 is below both state and national medians, which provides some cushion, but a 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio still means graduates are carrying debt equal to more than half their first year's income.

The challenge here isn't just the modest starting salary—it's that you're paying for outcomes you could achieve at nearby alternatives. University of Houston-Downtown, serving a similar student demographic, delivers 35% higher earnings with comparable debt. That difference compounds over a career.

For families weighing this program, the honest assessment is straightforward: if your child is set on social sciences and needs to stay local in San Antonio, this program offers manageable debt. But if geographic flexibility exists, nearby programs deliver substantially better financial returns. The 92% admission rate and modest debt suggest accessibility, but earnings outcomes lag too far behind state peers to ignore.