Computer and Information Sciences at Colorado State University Global

Colorado State University Global's computer science certificate graduates earn $61,737 in their first year—roughly $8,000 more than the Colorado median and nearly 60% more than the national median for this program. While that 60th percentile ranking in Colorado might sound middling, it's worth noting there are only nine schools offering this certificate in the state, so there's less room for differentiation. The real story is the 95th percentile national ranking, which puts this program far ahead of most comparable certificates nationwide.

The debt picture is remarkably favorable: $27,125 is higher than typical for certificates but translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.44. That means graduates could theoretically pay off their full debt load with less than six months of their first year's salary. Compare that to the national certificate median debt of $11,000, and yes, you're borrowing more—but you're also earning $23,000 more right out of the gate.

The major caveat here is sample size. With fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly as more data comes in. But if these earnings hold, this certificate offers a genuinely efficient path into tech work—especially for students who need the flexibility of an online program and can't commit to a four-year degree. The math works in favor of rapid payback.