Compare 18 Illustration. programs in Texas. Average earnings: $42,536.
Illustration programs produce graduates earning between $18,315 and $76,309—a $58K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 18 ranked programs in Texas, outcomes vary dramatically based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
At the top, The University Of Texas At Austin produces Illustration graduates earning $76,309, well above the $42,536 state average. Texas Christian University follows at $65,030, while Southern Methodist University rounds out the top three at $60,807—proving that program-level factors drive success more than overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UT Austin graduates borrow $20,500 and face just a 5.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. When parent loans are included, the family burden rises to 13%, but payments remain manageable for most graduates.
Highest program earnings: $76,309
Strong outcomes ($60,807) with 61% acceptance
5.2% payment burden | Excellent
13.0% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $76,309 | 61 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Manageable | |
| #2 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $65,030 | 37 | $21,500 | Excellent | $54,925 | High |
| #3 | $60,807 | 7 | $19,500 | Excellent | $40,025 | Challenging | |
| #4 | University Of HoustonPublic | $54,250 | 31 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Manageable |
| #5 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $54,246 | 126 | $21,000 | Good | $22,500 | Challenging |
| #6 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $51,121 | 34 | $23,000 | Good | $50,786 | High |
| #7 | $44,263 | 110 | $19,250 | Manageable | $23,211 | High | |
| #8 | $42,182 | 187 | $18,000 | Manageable | $21,495 | High | |
| #9 | $41,053 | 29 | $27,000 | Challenging | $25,775 | High | |
| #10 | $40,083 | 26 | $21,983 | Manageable | $19,433 | High | |
| #11 | Saint Edward's UniversityPrivate | $38,625 | 18 | $24,803 | Challenging | $28,135 | High |
| #12 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $36,134 | 13 | $21,500 | Challenging | $23,443 | High |
| #13 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | $33,459 | 7 | $19,218 | Challenging | $13,471 | High |
| #14 | $32,569 | 15 | $20,500 | High | $15,265 | High | |
| #15 | Lubbock Christian UniversityPrivate | $29,479 | 8 | $20,948 | High | $14,664 | High |
| #16 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $26,896 | 21 | $21,250 | High | $11,359 | High |
| #17 | Abilene Christian UniversityPrivate | $20,824 | 26 | $24,250 | High | $26,542 | High |
| #18 | $18,315 | 5 | $19,500 | High | $12,719 | 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 →
