Accounting at Texas Wesleyan University

Texas Wesleyan's accounting graduates earn $59,399 their first year—nearly $10,000 above the Texas median for accounting programs and comfortably in the top third nationally. That's particularly noteworthy given the school's 62% admission rate and $1051 average SAT score. While top-tier programs like SMU and UT Austin produce higher earners in the $68,000-$72,000 range, Texas Wesleyan delivers solid outcomes at what's likely a more accessible price point for many families.

The debt picture strengthens the value case. At $31,000, graduates carry moderately higher debt than Texas's $22,270 median, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 means students owe just over half their first-year salary—a manageable starting point. More importantly, Texas Wesleyan ranks in the 16th percentile nationally for debt, meaning 84% of accounting programs nationwide saddle graduates with more borrowing. That combination of above-average earnings and below-average debt creates breathing room early in graduates' careers.

One caveat matters: the sample size is small, so individual circumstances can swing these numbers. But for families seeking an affordable path into accounting—especially those who qualify for federal aid given that 41% of students receive Pell grants—Texas Wesleyan appears to position graduates competitively in the Texas job market without crushing debt loads.