Journalism at Texas Southern University

The numbers here are alarming enough that the small sample size almost doesn't matter—journalism graduates from Texas Southern University earn roughly half what their peers make at other Texas schools. At $18,301 one year out, these graduates are earning barely above minimum wage while carrying $34,750 in debt. Compare that to University of Houston graduates in the same major earning $36,226, or even the Texas median of $35,675.

This isn't just underperforming; it's a different outcome entirely. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.90 means graduates owe nearly twice their annual salary, while Texas journalism programs typically see ratios closer to 0.60. Even accounting for TSU's mission serving predominantly low-income students (71% receive Pell grants), these outcomes suggest the degree isn't opening doors to journalism careers that can support loan repayment.

If your child is committed to journalism, they'd be substantially better off at virtually any other Texas program—even community college transfer routes into state schools would likely yield better results. The only scenario where this makes sense is if they're attending debt-free through scholarships or family support. Otherwise, this combination of high debt and rock-bottom earnings creates a financial trap that could take decades to escape.