Information Science/Studies at Cleveland State University

Cleveland State's Information Science program produces graduates earning slightly above the Ohio median at $57,661, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide—a meaningful edge when considering the university's 95% admission rate and $980 average SAT score. With manageable debt of $25,731, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, meaning they're borrowing less than half their first-year salary. This positions Cleveland State as a solid middle-tier option in a state where the top program (University of Cincinnati) commands a $11,000 salary premium but likely with steeper admission requirements.

The practical trade-off here is straightforward: your child won't earn as much as UC grads, but they'll enter the field with reasonable debt and a salary that's workable in Cleveland's relatively affordable housing market. The program serves its access mission well—39% of students receive Pell grants—while delivering outcomes that land graduates squarely in the middle of the national pack. There's no dramatic upside, but there's also no red flag suggesting graduates struggle to service their loans.

For families prioritizing admission certainty and in-state tuition at a respectable urban campus, this program delivers what it promises: a pathway into information science without financial strain. The earnings won't turn heads, but the math works.