Human Resources Management and Services at University of the Incarnate Word

University of the Incarnate Word graduates in HR earn substantially more than their peers—$58,499 in the first year puts them in the 88th percentile nationally and ahead of programs at Texas A&M and UT Dallas. That's $10,000 above the national median and nearly $10,000 above what most Texas HR programs deliver. The 6% earnings bump by year four, while modest, suggests stable career progression in a field where early salaries often plateau quickly.

The tradeoff comes in the debt: at $36,007, graduates carry about $13,700 more than the Texas median for this program. However, the 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable—graduates earn enough in their first year to justify the borrowing, especially given that the school serves a heavily Pell-eligible student body (43%) where access to opportunity matters. This isn't bargain pricing, but it's delivering premium outcomes that help justify the cost.

For families weighing San Antonio options, UIW's HR program consistently outperforms both state and national benchmarks despite the school's open-door admission policy. The combination of strong starting salaries and reasonable debt levels makes this a viable investment, particularly for students who might not access the marginally higher-earning Baylor program. The earnings advantage over cheaper alternatives appears sustainable enough to offset the higher debt over time.