Accounting at University of St Thomas

The small sample size here is critical context, but the numbers still raise questions. University of St. Thomas accounting graduates earn $40,398 in their first year—about $9,000 below the Texas state median and nearly $13,000 below the national benchmark. Among Texas accounting programs, this lands in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable programs in the state produce higher-earning graduates. The gap is stark when you look at Texas's top programs: UT Austin and Texas A&M graduates start around $68,000, nearly 70% more.

The moderate debt load of $18,000 is actually a strength here, coming in well below both state and national medians. With a 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates should be able to manage their loans—that's roughly half a year's earnings, which is reasonable territory. However, the low starting salary means absolute monthly payments could still feel tight, even with less debt than peers elsewhere.

For a family considering this program, the key question is opportunity cost. Texas has strong public options like UT Austin and Texas A&M, plus competitive private programs, all delivering significantly better earnings outcomes. Unless there are compelling personal reasons to attend St. Thomas specifically—location, scholarships that bring costs even lower, or family circumstances that prioritize staying close to Houston—the earnings gap suggests looking at alternatives with stronger accounting placement records.