Computer and Information Sciences at Cleveland State University

Cleveland State's Computer Science program shows graduates starting at $48,555—below both the Ohio median ($49,837) and well below the national average ($61,322)—but then jumping to $80,483 by year four. That 66% earnings growth is notable, though these figures come from a small sample that may not fully represent typical outcomes. The $31,125 in debt sits right at Ohio's median and is actually below the national benchmark, making it reasonably manageable even with the modest starting salary.

The real question is why this program ranks in the 40th percentile within Ohio when schools like Wright State and Cincinnati are producing graduates earning $69,000+. The low starting salary suggests Cleveland State grads may need time to break into higher-paying tech roles, or they're initially taking positions that don't fully leverage their CS degrees. By year four, they've caught up considerably, but those first few years of lower earnings matter for debt repayment and career momentum.

For an open-access university serving many first-generation college students (39% receive Pell grants), the outcomes are functional—graduates do land tech jobs and see strong salary progression. But given that Ohio has several stronger CS programs at similar public universities, families should weigh whether Cleveland State's accessibility advantage outweighs starting 20-30% behind peers from other state schools.