Business/Commerce at University of Houston-Downtown

University of Houston-Downtown's business program delivers exactly what you'd expect from an open-access urban university: steady, middle-class outcomes at a reasonable price. With first-year earnings of $47,469 and debt of just $24,000, graduates face manageable repayment while earning slightly above the Texas median for business programs. That 60th percentile ranking among Texas schools is meaningful—your child would be doing better than most business graduates in a state with 41 competing programs.

The trajectory looks solid. Earnings climb 19% by year four, reaching $56,481, which suggests graduates gain traction in Houston's job market. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 means your child would owe roughly half of their first year's salary—a workable situation that shouldn't require years of financial struggle. Compare this to UT Austin's sky-high $94,041 outcomes or Baylor's $74,886, and yes, there's a gap. But with 52% of students on Pell grants and a 91% admission rate, UH-Downtown serves a different mission: providing accessible business credentials that lead to employment, not necessarily corner offices.

For a family seeking a practical business degree without excessive debt or admission drama, this program hits its mark. Your child won't graduate making $90,000, but they also won't spend the next decade buried in loan payments.