Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at University of North Texas

UNT's entrepreneurship program hits right at the national median for first-year earnings, but its real advantage comes from two factors: relatively modest debt and solid upward trajectory. At $19,365 in median debt—well below both the state and national averages—students graduate with meaningful financial flexibility. That 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, giving entrepreneurs crucial breathing room if they're launching ventures or need time to find the right opportunity.

The 60th percentile ranking among Texas programs matters here. While UNT can't compete with TCU's $65,000 starting salaries, it outperforms the state median and costs significantly less than private alternatives. The 23% earnings growth to $55,824 by year four suggests graduates are finding traction, whether in small business ownership, family enterprises, or corporate roles. For a program serving a substantial share of Pell-eligible students at an accessible public university, these outcomes represent solid middle-class employment.

The key consideration: entrepreneurship programs don't always translate directly to entrepreneurial careers, and many graduates end up in traditional business roles. For families comfortable with that flexibility and drawn to UNT's reasonable cost structure, this program delivers decent value without the financial strain that could actually prevent someone from taking entrepreneurial risks down the road.