Human Resources Management and Services at University of Houston

University of Houston's HR program graduates start at $46,700—about $4,000 below Texas peers and among the bottom quarter nationally for this degree. That earnings gap matters more because students are borrowing at the 79th percentile nationally, though the $22,000 debt load itself stays manageable with that 0.47 ratio. Among Texas HR programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile, meaning most alternatives in-state deliver stronger starting salaries. Compare that to UT San Antonio (which also serves a similar demographic) where graduates earn $56,961 right out of the gate—a $10,000 difference.

The 21% earnings growth to $56,273 by year four helps close the gap somewhat, but graduates spend those early years playing catch-up to peers who started ahead. With 41% of students on Pell grants, many come from families where every dollar of that starting salary matters for immediate financial stability.

For a Tier 1 research university in Houston's robust job market, these outcomes feel underwhelming. If your child is set on HR and UH for location or cost reasons, the manageable debt prevents disaster. But Texas offers stronger options—even the public UT system schools deliver better returns. Unless in-state tuition makes this significantly cheaper than those alternatives, the numbers suggest looking elsewhere.