What degree will make more money in Houston, Finance or MIS?

If you go the business school route, Accounting is probably your best bet. Not 'great' money but you should be able to always find a job, make very reasonable pay, and it's just a fact that every company/business entity needs an accountant.

A CPA wouldn't hurt, for sure, but judging by my friends' experiences, not a requirement for a decent starting salary...

 

Depends on which law school. My cousin is about to graduate Harvard (he went to UH for undergrad) and is coming back to Houston to work at Vinson & Elkins. They pay the same as NY firms for starting, which I think is $160k. But the average salary for a lawyer isn't $80-90k because everyone comes out of school at $120k. There are plenty of lawyers who make $60k etc if they went to some lower tiered school.

 

Pretty good advice but I would add the caveat of, do what you like the most that can reasonably pay off your student loans and give you a career path. Too many people finding themselves with $40k year job paying off $100k in loans.