Human Resources Management and Services at The University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA's HR program quietly outperforms most of its competition, landing graduates at higher starting salaries than you'll find at Texas A&M or UT Dallas—and without the premium debt load of private alternatives like Baylor. With first-year earnings of $56,961 against just $22,722 in debt, students enter the workforce with manageable obligations and immediate earning power. Among Texas HR programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, but that's stronger than it sounds: UTSA beats the state median by over $8,000 annually while keeping debt below the Texas average.

The catch is the earnings trajectory. Graduates see a 7% decline by year four, dropping to $53,030—suggesting HR roles at UTSA may start strong but plateau quickly or that some graduates shift into adjacent roles with different pay scales. This pattern isn't unusual in HR, where rapid early advancement can depend heavily on organizational size and industry, but it means the starting salary advantage may not compound over time.

For families weighing value, the math still works: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 means your child could feasibly pay off loans within a year of focused repayment. UTSA serves a high proportion of Pell Grant students and delivers on accessibility without sacrificing outcomes. If your student is committed to HR and wants to stay in Texas, this program offers solid entry-level preparation at a price point that won't dominate their twenties.