Management Information Systems and Services at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year, but what we're seeing is troubling: graduates start at $38,672, roughly $14,000 below Texas's median for MIS programs and in just the 5th percentile nationally. Even after four years, when earnings climb to $51,779, they're still trailing the state median and far behind what UT Austin ($86,622) or even University of North Texas ($64,441) graduates earn right out of the gate. This program serves a predominantly low-income student body in the Rio Grande Valley—64% receive Pell grants—so the minimal debt load of $8,360 matters significantly. That's less than half Texas's typical MIS debt and means the financial burden is manageable even with below-average earnings.

The practical question is whether starting $20,000 below peers at other Texas public universities is acceptable given the low debt. For students from the Valley who need to stay close to home or lack access to UT Austin or Texas A&M, this represents an affordable path into tech. But families should understand they're trading initial earning potential for geographic accessibility and minimal debt—a calculation that makes sense for some students but not others, particularly if relocating for a stronger program is financially feasible.