Information Science/Studies at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State's Information Science program delivers solid returns that clearly exceed both national and state benchmarks—graduates start at $68K while the national median sits at just under $59K. More impressively, earnings jump 15% to nearly $78K by year four, suggesting graduates build marketable skills that employers increasingly value. Among Colorado's limited pool of Information Science programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, though with only three schools offering the degree statewide, the real comparison point is national performance, where it lands in the 68th percentile.

The $25,000 debt load is reasonable given first-year earnings, creating a 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates can manage comfortably. That modest debt means loan payments won't dominate early-career budgets, even if graduates start at slightly lower salaries than the median suggests.

For families weighing this option, the math is straightforward: above-average starting salaries, manageable debt, and steady earnings growth create a reliable path to positive ROI. The 90% admission rate makes this accessible to most applicants, and the program's performance relative to peers suggests CSU's curriculum prepares graduates well for the information economy. This is a practical choice for students interested in the intersection of technology and information management.