Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Texas Christian University

TCU's entrepreneurial program delivers something rare: graduates earn $65,028 in their first year—nearly $20,000 more than the typical Texas graduate in this field and $20,000 above the national median. Among Texas schools, only Baylor comes close, and TCU beats them by $6,000. For parents worried that entrepreneurship programs lead to uncertain incomes, these numbers tell a different story.

The debt picture reinforces the value proposition. At $25,292, borrowing sits right around the national median for this degree, translating to a 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates owe less than 40 cents for every dollar they earn in year one—a manageable burden that shouldn't derail other financial goals. The combination of strong earnings and contained debt explains why this program ranks in the 95th percentile nationally.

This program appears to benefit from TCU's business network in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where the university's 43% admission rate and 1303 average SAT suggest a competitive but not elite student body. The low 13% Pell grant rate indicates many students come from families with resources, which can matter in entrepreneurship. For a family able to handle TCU's tuition structure, this program delivers solid returns compared to cheaper in-state alternatives that leave graduates earning $13,000-$33,000 less annually.