Interior Architecture at Texas Tech University

Texas Tech's Interior Architecture program outperforms most alternatives in the state, landing in the 60th percentile among Texas schools—a meaningful edge in a state where only eight universities offer this degree. First-year graduates earn $45,345, roughly $3,400 more than the state median, while the $21,950 debt load sits below both state and national benchmarks. The 19% earnings growth to $53,906 by year four suggests this isn't a career that peaks immediately, giving graduates room to build on their initial placement.

That said, the small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates tracked—means these numbers could swing substantially year to year. What looks solid today might shift if just a few graduates land unusually high or low-paying roles. Still, Texas Tech sits firmly in the middle tier of Texas programs: behind University of North Texas's $50,681 but well ahead of UT San Antonio's $36,513.

For families looking at interior architecture programs in Texas without the higher costs of private schools, this represents a reasonable path. The debt burden is manageable at 0.48 times first-year earnings, and graduates appear to gain traction as they establish themselves professionally. Just recognize you're evaluating a program based on limited data points—the actual experience could vary more than these averages suggest.