Computer Science at Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr's small computer science program lacks reported outcomes, but what similar programs in Pennsylvania produce gives parents something concrete to evaluate. Based on the state median for CS bachelor's programs—$67,310 in first-year earnings against $26,975 in debt—this translates to a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's roughly six months of gross pay to clear the debt, which falls comfortably in the "safe bet" territory for STEM degrees.

What's harder to assess is whether Bryn Mawr's selective environment (31% admission rate, 1404 average SAT) translates into better outcomes than the state average suggests. Pennsylvania's top CS programs show enormous variation—Carnegie Mellon and Penn graduates earn two to three times the state median, while even mid-tier programs like Drexel clear $86,000. If Bryn Mawr's outcomes track closer to the state median despite its selectivity, that would be disappointing. The college's 14% Pell rate also hints at a wealthier student body that may have family resources beyond what debt figures capture.

For families paying full freight at Bryn Mawr, the question isn't whether this debt load is manageable—it clearly is—but whether a small program at a liberal arts college delivers career outcomes competitive with Pennsylvania's research universities. Until this program grows large enough to produce reportable data, you're investing partly on faith in the institution's reputation rather than evidence of its CS graduates' market performance.