Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Texas College

Texas College serves a predominantly low-income student body—85% receive Pell grants—and while this bachelor's program lacks sufficient graduate data for direct reporting, comparable Liberal Arts programs across Texas suggest a financially treacherous path. Based on state medians, graduates might earn around $38,800 in their first year while carrying roughly $27,400 in debt, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 that looks manageable on paper but tells only part of the story.

The deeper concern is the earning potential itself. Similar programs at other Texas institutions—including public universities like UT Austin and Lamar—regularly produce graduates earning $43,000 to $53,000 in their first year, suggesting this program may struggle to compete in the job market. For students already facing financial vulnerability, borrowing $27,000 for a credential that peer programs indicate will yield near the state median (but well below what other schools achieve) means less margin for error if employment doesn't materialize quickly or family obligations arise.

For parents whose children qualify for substantial Pell grants, this program could work only if your student can minimize borrowing significantly below that $27,400 estimate—ideally keeping total debt under $15,000. Otherwise, the combination of relatively modest projected earnings and the school's resource constraints compared to larger Texas institutions makes this a high-risk investment for a general studies degree that may not deliver competitive career outcomes.