Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern's health sciences program faces a critical first-year employment challenge that sets it apart from other Texas programs. Graduates earn just $20,655 in their first year—landing in the 10th percentile statewide, where the median is $32,447. This isn't just below average; it's roughly half what students earn at comparable Texas schools like UT Rio Grande Valley ($40,655) or Texas A&M ($37,331). With nearly $30,000 in debt, new graduates face payments that consume an unsustainable portion of their income during that crucial first year post-graduation.

The dramatic 99% earnings jump to $41,024 by year four tells an important story: graduates who persist through those difficult early years eventually reach competitive salaries that exceed both state and national medians. This pattern suggests many students may be working in lower-paid healthcare support roles initially before transitioning into positions that better utilize their bachelor's degree. However, that first-year salary creates genuine hardship—think living paycheck-to-paycheck while making student loan payments in one of Texas's major metro areas.

For families, this program requires honest financial planning. Can your student live at home or otherwise minimize expenses for 2-3 years after graduation? Do they have a clear path to the better-paying positions reflected in that year-four number? Without that runway, the debt burden during those lean early years could force difficult choices that derail their healthcare career before it truly begins.