Computer Science at Austin College

A Computer Science degree that lands graduates in the 5th percentile nationally—earning $35,462 in their first year—raises immediate red flags, regardless of whether the $27,000 debt figure is estimated or precisely measured. That salary is less than half the national median for CS graduates ($70,950) and barely one-third of what similar programs in Texas typically produce ($82,714). Even West Texas A&M, not known as a tech powerhouse, shows graduates earning $88,391. Something is fundamentally off here.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 might look manageable in isolation, but context matters. Similar programs in Texas carry comparable debt loads while delivering earnings two to three times higher, meaning those graduates can pay down loans much faster and start building wealth sooner. Austin College's smaller program size (leading to suppressed debt data) suggests limited resources or connections in the tech industry, which could explain why graduates aren't accessing the strong Texas tech job market that benefits students at UT Arlington, Texas A&M, and even smaller state schools.

Before committing, demand answers about where recent graduates actually work and what specific support exists for job placement in tech roles. A selective school (47% admission rate, 1272 SAT average) should be launching CS students into careers paying at least close to state medians—not leaving them earning less than many liberal arts majors.