Business/Commerce at The University of Texas at Austin

First-year earnings of $94,041 place UT Austin's business program in an extraordinary position—among the very top nationally and far ahead of every other program in Texas with reported outcomes. While the debt figure here is estimated from similar programs in the state rather than actual graduate outcomes, the more important story is the earning power this degree delivers. Even if actual debt runs somewhat higher than the $23,750 estimate, the program's graduates are entering the workforce earning nearly double the national median for business majors and roughly $20,000 more than graduates from Baylor, the closest competitor in Texas with published data.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 suggests graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about three months of earnings—a calculation that holds even if the actual debt figure differs meaningfully from the estimate. What matters more is that UT Austin's business program is producing outcomes that justify nearly any reasonable level of undergraduate debt. The combination of strong academic selectivity (29% admission rate, 1380 average SAT) and what appears to be exceptional employer demand creates a dramatically different value proposition than most business programs.

For parents, the key question isn't whether this investment makes sense—it almost certainly does if your child can gain admission and handle the academic rigor. The real consideration is whether alternative paths (scholarships at other schools, starting salaries in specific industries your child targets) might close this earnings gap enough to matter.