Management Information Systems and Services at West Texas A & M University

West Texas A&M's MIS graduates start at $41,872—about $11,000 below the Texas median and $17,600 below the national median for this field. That's a significant gap in a profession where starting salaries typically hover around $60,000. Among the 40 Texas schools offering this program, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable programs deliver stronger first-year outcomes.

The good news is that earnings grow substantially, jumping 40% to $58,423 by year four. The manageable debt of $28,475 (0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio) means graduates aren't crushed by payments while waiting for that salary growth to materialize. However, even after four years, earnings remain below where most MIS graduates start elsewhere in Texas. The state's top programs—UT Austin, Texas A&M, Baylor—place graduates at $65,000 to $86,000 right out of the gate.

For families considering this program, understand that you're accepting a slower financial start in exchange for West Texas A&M's accessible admissions and relatively affordable debt load. If your student can gain admission to UT Dallas, A&M, or even UNT—all public options with substantially higher MIS earnings—those would deliver faster ROI. This program works best for students who need the open-access opportunity and can afford to spend their twenties building toward industry-standard salaries rather than earning them immediately.