Computer Science at Clarkson University

Clarkson's computer science graduates start strong and then surge—hitting nearly $80,000 in their first year and climbing to $104,000 by year four. That 30% earnings growth trajectory is exactly what you want to see from a tech degree, and while the program doesn't match the elite NYC schools or Cornell, it outperforms 60% of New York CS programs despite being located in rural upstate New York.

The debt picture strengthens the case: at $26,000, graduates owe just one-third of their first-year salary, which is manageable territory for a field with these earning levels. This actually represents below-average borrowing for computer science nationally. The combination means graduates can comfortably service loans while building savings, even if they don't immediately land at a tech giant.

What you're getting here is solid technical training without the pressure cooker admissions (77% acceptance rate) and a career launch that rivals much more selective programs. Clarkson sits between RIT and University of Rochester in outcomes despite being far easier to get into. The tradeoff is location—Potsdam is remote, which may mean fewer local internship opportunities—but the graduation outcomes suggest students are successfully finding their way to stronger job markets. For a student who wants CS opportunities without brutal admissions odds, this delivers professional-level earnings at a reasonable debt load.