Location: San Marcos, TX•In-State Tuition: $11,450•Out-of-State Tuition: $23,210•Admission Rate: 89%•Avg SAT: 1093
Median Earnings (1yr)
$43,064
18th percentile
25th percentile in Texas
Median Debt
$22,717
At national median
D/E Ratio: 0.53 ManageableSample: 45 graduates

Analysis

Texas State's economics graduates earn about $8,000 less than the state median and nearly $9,000 below the national benchmark in their first year. Landing in the 25th percentile statewide means three-quarters of Texas economics programs deliver stronger immediate returns. The debt load of $22,717 is reasonable and close to national norms, but when paired with below-average earnings, it creates a ratio that takes longer to overcome than at stronger programs.

The context matters here: Texas State serves a largely in-state population (36% on Pell grants) at an accessible price point, but the economics degree isn't competing well even within this segment. Nearby UT Austin graduates start at $58,717—$15,000 more annually—which compounds significantly over a career. While some of this gap reflects selectivity differences, the 18th percentile national ranking suggests the program itself may not be opening the doors economics students typically expect in finance, consulting, or policy roles.

For families seeking an affordable path to an economics degree, this program keeps debt manageable but delivers below-market outcomes. If your student is set on economics and Texas State specifically, they'll need to be aggressive about internships and networking to overcome the credential gap. Otherwise, consider stronger regional options or different majors at Texas State where the value proposition might be clearer.

Where Texas State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all economics bachelors's programs nationally

Texas State UniversityOther economics programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Texas State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Texas State University earns $43k — 18th percentile among economics bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (26 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos$11,450$43,064—$22,7170.53
Rice UniversityHouston$58,128$78,814$88,145$11,2890.14
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas$64,460$71,630$74,491$19,5000.27
The University of Texas at AustinAustin$11,678$58,717$81,620$21,1250.36
Trinity UniversitySan Antonio$51,352$57,482$72,862$20,5000.36
University of DallasIrving$50,880$55,732$57,745$24,7520.44
National Median—$51,722—$22,8160.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with economics graduates

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Texas State University, approximately 36% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 45 graduates with reported earnings and 52 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.