Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at Texas Woman's University

Texas Woman's University produces communication disorders graduates who start well behind their Texas peers—earning about $5,500 less than the state median in their first year and ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's a significant gap in a state where programs like Baylor and Stephen F. Austin consistently place graduates in the $34,000-38,000 range right out of college. The manageable $17,463 debt load offers some relief, coming in below both state and national averages, but parents should understand this lower debt exists alongside substantially lower initial earnings.

The dramatic 118% earnings jump to $47,000 by year four suggests many graduates pursue graduate study to become licensed speech-language pathologists—a common pathway in this field that requires a master's degree. That eventual salary is competitive, but the four-year trajectory means a longer runway to financial independence compared to programs where graduates start closer to $30,000.

The extremely small sample size here (under 30 graduates) adds another layer of uncertainty—a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. For families confident their student will continue to graduate school and willing to accept the financial constraints of those early years, this remains a viable path. But if immediate post-graduation earnings matter for your planning, other Texas programs deliver stronger launching points with similar or even lower debt burdens.