Computer Science at Benedictine College

Is it worth borrowing $25,000 for a computer science degree when the actual earnings record at Benedictine College remains unknown? Peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $71,000, which would make that debt level manageable—a 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio falls comfortably within the "good investment" range for most college programs. But here's the complication: Kansas computer science graduates typically earn just $59,000 in their first year, nearly $12,000 below the national estimate, while carrying higher debt loads averaging $32,000. Benedictine's smaller program size (which triggers the data suppression) means we simply don't know whether graduates here track closer to national norms or state realities.

The uncertainty matters more than it might for other majors. Computer science outcomes vary dramatically based on whether graduates land positions with major tech employers, which often requires strong career services connections and recruiting pipelines. Benedictine's 76% admission rate and smaller CS program suggest it may not have the same employer relationships as larger Kansas tech schools like Wichita State, where actual reported earnings of $65,000 provide a concrete data point. Without knowing where Benedictine's graduates actually work or earn, you're essentially betting on the national trend while attending a regional Kansas college—a mismatch that could go either way but deserves skepticism given the state's lower earning patterns.