Business/Managerial Economics at The University of Texas at Arlington

UTA's Business/Managerial Economics program matches the Texas median for earnings ($53,984 first-year salary), placing it in the 60th percentile among state programs—slightly ahead of most Texas competitors. The real story here is the debt picture: at just $16,063, graduates carry significantly less debt than the national median ($22,250) and state median ($19,044), ranking in the 95th percentile nationally. This combination produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30, meaning graduates owe roughly 3-4 months of their first-year salary.

For families weighing this against alternatives like Baylor (higher earnings at $60,575 but likely higher costs) or UT San Antonio (lower earnings at $44,424), UTA offers a middle ground with notably lower debt burden. The 81% admission rate and 40% Pell grant population suggest this program serves a broad range of students while delivering competitive outcomes. Earnings roughly match the national median for business economics programs ($53,219), so graduates aren't sacrificing income potential despite the lower sticker price.

The value proposition is straightforward: your child graduates with manageable debt and earnings on par with what this degree typically commands. In a field where excessive student loans can undermine the financial benefits of the degree itself, UTA keeps the debt side of the equation firmly under control.