Business/Managerial Economics at The University of Texas at El Paso

Similar business economics programs across Texas suggest this degree produces earnings right at the state median of $54,000, paired with modest debt around $18,000. That 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would owe roughly four months of their first-year salary—a manageable load that positions this program as a solid middle-tier option among Texas business schools.

The earnings trajectory tells an interesting story: first-year income estimated at $54,000 actually dips slightly to $51,500 by year four. This isn't necessarily alarming—it could reflect graduates initially taking corporate jobs before shifting to entrepreneurial ventures or graduate school—but it does suggest earnings growth isn't automatic. UTEP serves a predominantly first-generation, working-class student body (61% receive Pell grants), and for families where that's the profile, converting an open-admission education into middle-class earnings represents genuine economic mobility.

What matters here is the comparison set. This program appears to perform roughly on par with UT Arlington and ahead of UT San Antonio, though trailing private universities like Baylor by $6,000-7,000 annually. For a family weighing cost versus outcomes, the relatively light debt load matters more than chasing the highest possible starting salary. Your child would enter the workforce without the financial burden that hampers many graduates, which creates flexibility for career choices and life planning.