Business Administration, Management and Operations at Texas Wesleyan University

Texas Wesleyan's business program sits right in the middle of the pack among Texas schools—not impressive, but not disastrous either. At $40,117 in first-year earnings, graduates make about $4,000 less than the typical Texas business graduate, though they also carry slightly less debt at $22,250. That 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio is actually manageable, meaning graduates should be able to handle their loan payments on entry-level business salaries without major strain.

The real concern here is the ceiling. While top Texas programs like TCU and UT Austin launch graduates toward $65,000-$72,000 starting salaries, Texas Wesleyan alumni begin at nearly half that level. For families paying private school tuition (though merit aid may bring costs down), this creates a tough calculation. The 41% Pell grant population suggests many students here have limited financial options, making the relatively modest debt load more important than the earnings gap.

Here's the bottom line: if your child can get meaningful financial aid that brings total debt below $20,000, this becomes a workable option—especially if they need the smaller campus environment or personal attention. But if you're looking at sticker price or significant loans, the state's public universities deliver similar or better outcomes at lower cost. Just keep in mind the small sample size means these numbers could shift meaningfully with next year's data.