Higher education is a significant investment, and the cost of pursuing an undergraduate degree has grown exponentially over the past few decades. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, one year of undergraduate education today costs about the same as four years of undergraduate education did in 1980. Over the same time period, post-graduation earnings have remained relatively flat after adjusting for inflation. The combination of rising tuition and low wage growth has brought the value of higher education programs into question.

Despite slow wage growth, certain college majors fare better in the labor market. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reveals that the median wage for 22- to 27-year-old bachelor’s degree holders is $40,000 per year, but degrees related to engineering, business, and computer science tend to command far higher salaries. By contrast, graduates of academic programs in the liberal arts, social sciences, and fine arts are likely to earn less than the national median. Similar data from the Department of Education reveals that the median earnings for public, four-year university graduates six years after beginning school is $36,737.

In addition to academic major, another strong indicator of future career earnings is the college that awarded the degree. Earning potential varies significantly by institution and by state. To find which public colleges have the best earnings outcomes for undergraduate students, researchers at Volusion analyzed data for more than 500 public colleges from the U.S. Department of Education. The researchers ordered schools and states based on the median annual earnings of its employed undergraduate students six years after starting school. For most students, this is between one and two years after graduation.

The analysis found that Texas grads earn a median salary of $39,216 after graduation. Of graduates from all public colleges, Texas grads earn the 11th most after graduation in the U.S. Here is a summary of the data for Texas:

Median annual earnings after graduation: $39,216

In-state tuition and fees: $9,138

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $23,061

Median debt after graduation: $14,057

For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

Median annual earnings after graduation: $36,736

In-state tuition and fees: $9,701

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $23,718

Median debt after graduation: $15,045

For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results for all states, you can find the original report on Volusion’s website: https://www.volusion.com/blog/public-colleges-whose-students-earn-the-most-after-graduation/