Design and Applied Arts at Texas State Technical College

Texas State Technical College's Design and Applied Arts program starts graduates at just $23,345—well below both Texas peers ($32,467 median) and the national average ($27,846). Among the 28 Texas schools offering this associate's degree, this program ranks in the bottom quarter. Nearby Austin Community College graduates earn nearly $17,000 more in their first year, while even Dallas College students start $8,000 higher. The 22% earnings growth over four years brings graduates to $28,471, but that still lags behind where many comparable programs start their students.

The $15,679 in debt isn't catastrophic relative to initial earnings, but when combined with below-average starting salaries, it creates a longer path to financial stability than similar programs in Texas. With 45% of students receiving Pell grants, many come from families where maximizing that first paycheck matters significantly.

For a parent weighing community college options in Texas, this program underperforms its peers substantially. Unless your child has a specific technical specialization at this campus that isn't available elsewhere, Austin Community College or even Dallas College would likely provide better early-career earnings for similar or lower debt. The value proposition here simply doesn't match what other accessible Texas options deliver.