Marketing at The University of Texas at Dallas

UT Dallas marketing graduates are clearing about $20,000 more in their first year than the typical Texas marketing grad—and doing it with 20% less debt. At $51,384 starting out and climbing to $64,110 by year four, they're outearning 81% of marketing programs nationally. The debt picture is even more striking: just $17,562 compared to the state median of $22,130, giving graduates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 that makes the degree manageable from day one.

What stands out is the combination of strong earnings growth (25% over four years) and access. While UT Dallas falls behind private schools like TCU and Baylor in first-year earnings, it delivers comparable outcomes to UT Austin's marketing program—which ranks third in the state—while maintaining a 65% admission rate. For a public university serving a student body where 30% receive Pell grants, these numbers demonstrate real economic mobility.

The caveat: within Texas, this program ranks at the 60th percentile despite strong absolute numbers, reflecting the competitive landscape of Texas marketing programs. Still, when you can earn above the national 75th percentile and graduate with minimal debt from an accessible public university, you're looking at one of the more reliable paths into marketing careers available in the region.