Apparel and Textiles at University of Maryland-College Park

A $24,750 debt load for first-year earnings around $37,000 creates a manageable financial starting point—comparable programs nationally suggest graduates enter their careers with a debt burden of about 67% of their first-year salary. That's within the range where most financial aid experts consider loan payments sustainable, though it means allocating roughly 8-10% of gross income to student loans in those early years.

The challenge lies in what we don't know. As Maryland's only four-year apparel and textiles program, this degree operates without local competition but also without local benchmarks. The national data suggests this field typically produces modest starting salaries regardless of institution—even top-performing programs nationally reach only about $40,000 in first-year earnings. The question becomes whether UMD's strong academic reputation (reflected in its 1463 average SAT score) translates to better industry connections or career outcomes than the typical program in this major.

For families weighing this investment, the estimated numbers suggest a financially viable path if your student is committed to fashion, textiles, or merchandising. The debt picture appears manageable, but the modest earnings trajectory means this isn't a major where you can comfortably borrow beyond federal loan limits. Before committing, push the department on actual placement rates and whether their graduates outperform the national baseline—the difference between $37,000 and $40,000 starting salaries compounds significantly over a career.