Health Professions and Related Programs — CIP 51.39 at Southwest Texas Junior College
TX · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.39
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Health Professions and Related Programs — CIP 51.39 degree from Southwest Texas Junior College earn a median salary of $59,116 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in TX, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $64,187. The degree typically pays for itself in 8.7 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$43,722
Typical Career
$59,116
Top Performers
$77,959
Estimated break-even: 8.7 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$394
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,926. Most students can comfortably afford about a $394 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.5x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Texas buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Administrative & Support Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$64,187
Nominal: $59,116 in Texas (COL 92.1% of national avg) · 8.6% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $34,799 | $45,524 | $57,233 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $43,722 | $59,116 | $77,959 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $49,202 | $65,706 | $91,324 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $59,116 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in TX, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $59,116 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9210)
= $64,187 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The majority of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, which employs 78.0% of alumni, followed by Educational Services at 28.1%. This concentration in stable industries suggests a strong job market for graduates. The estimated break-even point for those pursuing this path versus a high-school-only education is approximately 8.7 years, indicating a favorable return on investment for those who complete the program. Overall, the data suggests that pursuing a degree in Health Professions and Related Programs offers a solid financial and career outlook.
Compare with Another School
See how the Health Professions and Related Programs — CIP 51.39 degree at Southwest Texas Junior College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Health Professions and Related Programs — CIP 51.39 at Southwest Texas Junior College.
Explore More
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.