Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Texas State University

Texas State's natural resources program starts graduates at just $29,414—about $7,000 below the state median and nearly $5,000 under the national average for this field. Among Texas programs, it ranks at the bottom quartile, trailing peers like Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M schools by $7,000-$12,000 in first-year earnings. For context, some Texas State graduates are earning what amounts to entry-level retail wages despite completing a four-year degree.

The silver lining is impressive earnings growth: salaries jump 57% by year four to reach $46,020, which finally catches up to more competitive territory. However, that initial earning period matters tremendously when you're carrying $24,515 in debt. The first few years of loan repayment will be financially tight, even though the debt load itself is fairly typical for the field. The 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one reflects this squeeze—you're looking at student loan payments consuming a meaningful chunk of take-home pay when living expenses are already tight.

If your child is passionate about conservation work and willing to accept below-market starting pay in exchange for Texas State's accessible admission and solid career trajectory, this could work. But they should understand they're making a financial trade-off: easier admission comes with a harder first few years post-graduation compared to peers at other Texas schools.