Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at The University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA's Management Sciences program starts significantly behind the pack but recovers impressively. First-year earnings of $47,528 lag both the Texas median ($57,251) and national average ($62,069) by roughly $10,000-$15,000, placing graduates in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's a tough beginning, particularly when comparing to nearby UT Dallas grads who earn $61,303 right out of the gate. However, the 63% earnings jump to $77,371 by year four tells a different story—graduates who stick it out eventually surpass not just state and national medians, but also overtake peers from higher-ranked Texas programs.

The debt picture offers reassurance: at $23,500, it's essentially average and translates to a manageable 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio even in that challenging first year. For families prioritizing UTSA's accessible admissions (88% acceptance rate) and lower tuition costs for in-state students, this becomes more compelling. The real question is whether your student can weather those early years earning well below market rate—perhaps living at home or taking on side work—to reach the stronger mid-career outcomes.

This program rewards patience rather than providing immediate returns. If your child needs to start earning competitively right away, look at UT Dallas or East Texas A&M. But if they can manage a slower start, UTSA's trajectory eventually delivers solid value for a fraction of the entry difficulty.