Computer and Information Sciences at Bethel University

Bethel's computer science graduates earn $73,942 in their first year—well above the national median and competitive within Minnesota's tech market. While the debt figure of roughly $26,000 is estimated from comparable private institutions (Bethel had too few graduates to report actual debt data), this ballpark aligns closely with state and national norms for computer science programs. A debt-to-earnings ratio around 0.35 suggests graduates could reasonably manage loan payments while building their careers.

The earnings here place Bethel in solid territory nationally but middle-of-the-pack within Minnesota, where competition from established programs like Macalester and state universities is fierce. Bethel graduates are earning on par with the state median, which indicates the program holds its own despite serving a broader student population (91% admission rate suggests accessibility over selectivity). The real question is whether the Christian liberal arts environment and smaller cohort size justify any potential premium over lower-cost state alternatives.

Given the estimated debt and strong first-year earnings, the program appears financially viable. However, parents should request actual graduate outcome data directly from Bethel—specifically debt and employment rates for recent cohorts—since the estimates here may not capture this program's unique financial aid patterns or career support. If actual debt runs higher than $30,000, the value proposition weakens quickly in a field where state schools produce similar earnings at lower cost.