Computer Science at Bridgewater College

The small sample size here demands caution, but Bridgewater's computer science program shows earnings about $14,000 below Virginia's median and nearly $13,000 below the national average. Among Virginia's 20 CS programs, this lands in the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of similar programs in the state produce higher early-career earnings. That's a meaningful gap in a field where employers typically pay based on skills rather than school prestige, suggesting graduates may face challenges competing for the highest-paying entry-level positions.

The debt load of $26,000 matches Virginia's median and sits near the national average, which keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio reasonable at 0.44. A graduate earning $58,440 should be able to manage those loan payments without severe financial stress. However, the value calculation becomes less favorable when you consider that George Mason and William & Mary graduates earn roughly $25,000 more annually—that's an extra $100,000+ over just four years of work, easily outweighing any tuition differences.

For families considering Bridgewater specifically for its small-school environment or other non-financial factors, the debt burden won't be crushing. But purely as an ROI decision for computer science, Virginia offers substantially stronger options at comparable or lower debt levels. The handful of data points available suggest this program underperforms its in-state competition significantly.