Journalism at Texas State University

Texas State's journalism graduates start at $33,255—below both the state median ($35,675) and the national average ($34,515), placing this program at the 40th percentile among Texas journalism schools. While the $20,847 in debt is slightly better than typical for the field, the modest starting salary means graduates face a real challenge in those first years. You're looking at earnings that trail programs like UT Austin and University of Houston by $6,000-7,000 annually, a gap that compounds significantly over time.

The 6% earnings growth over four years to $35,078 helps narrow the gap somewhat, but graduates still remain near the middle of the pack. For a family weighing journalism programs in Texas, the question becomes whether the accessible admission (89% acceptance rate) and lower-than-average debt load offset the weaker earning potential. The program does what it promises—prepares students for journalism careers—but it's not positioning them for the higher-paying opportunities that graduates from UT Austin or SMU might access more easily.

If your child is committed to journalism and Texas State offers significant in-state tuition advantages, the manageable debt makes this workable. But if you're paying similar amounts to what you'd pay at UT Austin or University of Houston, those programs deliver materially better outcomes in the same market. The field itself pays modestly, so starting position matters more than it would in higher-earning careers.