Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration at The University of Texas at Austin

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 looks manageable on paper, but the real story here is what these national benchmarks reveal about pharmaceutical sciences bachelor's programs nationwide. Peer programs typically produce first-year earnings around $49,000—a figure that's decent for a recent graduate, but modest considering this is a competitive, health-adjacent field at a selective university. The estimated $22,000 debt load aligns closely with national norms for these programs, suggesting UT Austin isn't overpricing this credential relative to the market.

The challenge is that these figures come entirely from comparable programs elsewhere, since UT Austin's graduate cohort was too small for the DOE to report. What we do know: pharmaceutical sciences bachelor's degrees occupy an unusual space—they're not direct entry to pharmacy practice (which requires a PharmD), but rather prepare students for pharmaceutical industry roles, research positions, or graduate school. The national data suggests these programs produce relatively uniform outcomes across institutions, with even top performers earning in the mid-$50,000s initially.

For parents, the key question is whether your child plans to stop at the bachelor's level or continue to graduate school. If this is a stepping stone to a PharmD or PhD, the debt load is reasonable. If not, understand that similar programs nationally suggest earnings potential that's solid but unspectacular—comparable to many business or science majors that might offer more flexibility with less specialized coursework.