Public Health at The University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA's public health program starts behind the curve but shows impressive momentum that could pay off for the right student. First-year earnings of $33,514 lag both Texas and national medians, but the 41% jump to $47,230 by year four suggests graduates are finding solid career footing—ultimately surpassing both benchmarks by a meaningful margin. At 40th percentile within Texas, this program sits squarely in the middle tier among 26 in-state options, far below UT MD Anderson's elite outcomes but competitive with major state universities.

The debt picture looks reasonable: $24,885 is slightly below both state and national medians, creating a manageable 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio at graduation. For a school serving a predominantly working-class student body (42% Pell-eligible), keeping debt near $25,000 while delivering mid-$40,000 earnings by year four represents responsible outcomes. The trajectory matters here—that 41% earnings growth suggests graduates aren't stuck in entry-level positions but are advancing professionally.

The tradeoff is clear: you're paying less and borrowing less than at top Texas programs, but accepting below-average starting salaries and a slower launch. If your child is willing to grind through lower early earnings and can handle the debt serviceably on that starting salary, the four-year outcome looks solid for an accessible state university program.