Computer Science at Colgate University

Colgate's computer science graduates earn roughly $80,000 in their first year—a solid outcome that beats three-quarters of CS programs nationally. But here's the catch: you're sending your child to a highly selective liberal arts college (12% acceptance rate, 1480 SAT average) where they'll compete against Cornell grads earning nearly double ($153k) and Columbia grads pulling $119k. Within New York State, Colgate ranks in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, despite being one of the state's most selective institutions.

The debt picture looks better, with graduates owing just $16,000—well below both state and national medians. That low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.20 means manageable payments. The real question is whether Colgate's intimate liberal arts environment and broader educational experience justifies the opportunity cost when nearby RPI and Rochester offer similar selectivity with 30-40% higher starting salaries.

Fair warning: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. If your child is committed to maximizing tech earnings immediately after college, the larger CS programs at New York's research universities show stronger outcomes. If they value Colgate's small-class model and want CS skills alongside a liberal arts foundation, the modest debt and decent earnings make it workable—just understand they're paying for the Colgate experience, not pure career ROI.