Computer Software and Media Applications at Carnegie Mellon University

The $38,000 estimated first-year earnings here seem surprisingly low for Carnegie Mellon, one of the nation's most selective tech schools. These figures come from national medians across similar programs—not CMU's actual graduates—which means they likely understate what students from this elite program actually earn. Pennsylvania College of Technology, a far less selective school, reports graduates earning $43,000, and Pennsylvania's overall median for this degree sits at $42,000. It's hard to imagine CMU graduates, with their 1545 average SAT scores and access to Silicon Valley recruiting pipelines, earning below state averages.

The estimated $25,600 in debt appears reasonable for a private university, putting the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.67 if we accept the conservative earnings estimate. But that ratio almost certainly looks better in reality—CMU's computer science and related programs are legendary for launching high-earning careers. The school's 11% admission rate and industry connections suggest graduates command compensation well above what these peer-program estimates indicate.

Treat these numbers as a floor, not a ceiling. If your child is choosing CMU specifically for its software and tech credentials, they're likely betting on outcomes that dramatically exceed what typical programs deliver. The risk isn't the debt load—it's modest for this credential level. The question is whether CMU's premium justifies its cost over state schools where actual reported earnings already beat these estimates.