Agriculture at Texas State University

Texas State's agriculture graduates start at nearly $45,000—outpacing 76% of ag programs nationally and landing right at Texas's median for this field. The catch? Sample size matters here. With fewer than 30 graduates reporting, these figures could shift significantly year to year, making this less of a reliable signal than data from larger programs like Texas A&M or Texas Tech.

The debt load of roughly $21,000 is manageable, representing less than half of first-year earnings—a healthy ratio that most financial aid advisors would consider reasonable. Earnings growth to $56,600 by year four shows solid trajectory, though graduates still trail the flagship ag programs by $10,000-$15,000 annually. For context, Texas A&M grads in this field earn $60,000 right out of the gate.

Given Texas State's 89% admission rate and accessible profile, this program appears to deliver decent returns for students who might not gain admission to the state's more selective agricultural powerhouses. But the small cohort size means one exceptional (or struggling) graduating class could dramatically skew the numbers. If your student is considering this route, connect with the department directly to understand placement rates and whether recent years match this data—the small sample makes that conversation more critical than usual.