Compare 24 General Studies. programs in Texas. Average earnings: $46,520.
With top graduates earning $69,083, General Studies stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $22K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Southern Methodist University's General Studies program leads with graduates earning $69,083, well above the $46,520 average across 24 Texas programs. The University of Texas at Austin follows at $59,458, demonstrating how program-specific factors drive outcomes more than overall school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Southern Methodist graduates borrow $19,500 and face just a 5.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, Texas Woman's University leads with a 16.1% family burden—proof that the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $69,083
Strong outcomes with 61% acceptance
5.7% payment burden | Excellent
16.1% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $69,083 | 47 | $19,500 | Excellent | $40,025 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $59,458 | 245 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Challenging | |
| #3 | University Of St ThomasPrivate | $53,187 | 77 | $19,928 | Good | $15,350 | Manageable |
| #4 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $52,889 | 164 | $21,000 | Good | $22,500 | Challenging |
| #5 | Wayland Baptist UniversityPrivate | $52,558 | 205 | $23,106 | Good | $12,820 | Manageable |
| #6 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | $52,127 | 238 | $19,218 | Good | $13,471 | Manageable |
| #7 | $49,781 | 618 | $19,250 | Good | $23,211 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $49,603 | 312 | $17,527 | Good | $12,313 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $48,551 | 36 | $26,000 | Manageable | $34,374 | High | |
| #10 | $47,354 | 24 | $24,725 | Manageable | $20,475 | High | |
| #11 | University Of HoustonPublic | $45,943 | 58 | $18,194 | Good | $18,072 | Challenging |
| #12 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $45,913 | 237 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,443 | High |
| #13 | $45,509 | 202 | $19,500 | Good | $12,719 | Challenging | |
| #14 | $45,403 | 56 | $29,000 | Manageable | $19,929 | High | |
| #15 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $45,338 | 57 | $21,500 | Manageable | $54,925 | High |
| #16 | $44,934 | 166 | $20,500 | Manageable | $13,859 | Challenging | |
| #17 | $43,663 | 54 | $21,983 | Manageable | $19,433 | High | |
| #18 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $43,525 | 146 | $21,250 | Manageable | $11,359 | Challenging |
| #19 | $42,890 | 99 | $19,606 | Manageable | $17,125 | High | |
| #20 | Concordia University TexasPrivate | $39,370 | 38 | $21,852 | Manageable | $25,137 | High |
| #21 | $38,708 | 133 | $20,500 | Manageable | $15,265 | High | |
| #22 | Lubbock Christian UniversityPrivate | $34,330 | 18 | $20,948 | Challenging | $14,664 | High |
| #23 | $33,993 | 20 | $18,953 | Challenging | $8,000 | High | |
| #24 | Arlington Baptist UniversityPrivate | $32,360 | 10 | $27,000 | High | $13,070 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
