Computer Science at Concordia University-Wisconsin

In Wisconsin's competitive computer science landscape, Concordia-Wisconsin's program produces starting salaries near $49,000—well below what graduates from UW-Milwaukee ($74,000) and Saint Norbert ($71,000) command, and $10,000 under the state median. The school's debt burden, estimated from national peers at $25,000, translates to a manageable 0.51 debt-to-earnings ratio. Yet the real concern is that first-year salary, which ranks at just the 5th percentile nationally among computer science programs. By year four, earnings do climb to about $59,000, showing 21% growth, but this still lags behind stronger Wisconsin programs where graduates often start at these levels.

The trajectory matters here. Computer science graduates typically see their strongest salary gains in early career years, but starting so far behind makes catching up difficult in a field where employers increasingly compete for talent. While the debt load isn't crushing, you're paying private school tuition for outcomes that look more like mid-tier state school results. The 1250 average SAT suggests decent academic preparation, yet something in the program—whether it's curriculum, employer connections, or local market access—isn't translating to competitive placement.

For parents considering this investment: your child would likely need exceptional hustle—strong internships, personal projects, networking—to overcome the salary gap. If computer science is the goal and finances are a factor, Wisconsin has multiple programs where graduates launch at higher salaries with similar or even lower debt.