Computer Science at Baylor University

Baylor's computer science program delivers solid earnings outcomes—$82,714 in year one rising to $94,244 by year four—while keeping debt notably below national averages at $27,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 means graduates earn roughly three times their debt load in their first year, a comfortable margin that beats most CS programs nationwide.

The earnings picture shows steady 14% growth over the first four years, placing graduates in the 77th percentile nationally but the 60th percentile within Texas. That state ranking matters because graduates are competing with tech hubs like Austin and Dallas, where programs at SMU ($93,679) and Texas A&M ($86,084) pull ahead. Still, Baylor matches the Texas median exactly, meaning half of CS programs in the state produce lower earnings—and crucially, Baylor does this with debt in the 18th percentile nationally, substantially below what most comparable programs require.

For a private university with selective admissions, this represents reasonable value: your child enters the workforce earning more than most computer science graduates nationwide, with manageable debt that shouldn't constrain early-career decisions. The program won't place them at the top of Texas tech salaries, but the combination of strong initial earnings and low debt burden creates genuine financial flexibility.