Public Administration at The University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA's Public Administration program sits exactly at the state median for starting earnings at $38,358, but that's less impressive than it sounds—Texas public administration programs collectively underperform the national benchmark by about $7,000. While this program lands in the 60th percentile among Texas schools, it's only in the 21st percentile nationally, meaning most comparable programs elsewhere produce significantly stronger initial outcomes.

The manageable debt load of $20,500 provides some cushion, creating a reasonable 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio that graduates can handle on entry-level government or nonprofit salaries. Four-year earnings climb to $43,594, which helps but doesn't fully close the gap with stronger programs—Texas State's graduates, for instance, start nearly $8,000 higher. The program serves UTSA's mission well as an accessible public university (88% admission rate, 42% Pell recipients), but families should recognize they're trading some earning potential for that accessibility.

For students committed to public service careers in San Antonio, this represents a workable path with debt they can manage. However, those with options should note that nearby Texas State delivers substantially better outcomes with similar debt levels. The key question is whether staying local and the lower admission barriers justify accepting below-average national returns in a field where starting salaries already lag many other majors.