Finance and Financial Management Services at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern's finance program starts off promising—graduates earn $53,873 in their first year, which beats the Texas median and lands in the 60th percentile statewide. That's respectable performance from a school serving predominantly low-income students (71% receive Pell grants). The debt load of $33,000 is manageable relative to that first-year salary, sitting well below the typical threshold that financial aid experts consider worrisome.

The concerning part is what happens next. By year four, median earnings drop to $41,190—a 23% decline that's hard to explain by normal career patterns. Finance professionals typically see steady salary growth, not sharp drops. This could reflect graduates switching industries, taking time off, or other factors, but with fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, we can't distinguish between a meaningful trend and statistical noise. It's also worth noting that even strong Texas programs like UT Austin show modest early earnings growth, so some volatility may be field-specific in this state.

For families considering this program, the decision hinges on the first-year outcome holding steady. If your child can land in that $54,000 range and manage the debt load, it's a reasonable foundation. But the small sample size means you're making this call with limited visibility. Look for additional data points—job placement rates, internship partnerships, alumni networks in Houston's financial sector—before committing.