Computer and Information Sciences at Doane University

Doane's computer science program produces graduates earning $63,451 their first year—slightly above both national and Nebraska medians—while keeping debt right at the state average of $27,000. That 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio is actually quite manageable for a tech degree, meaning graduates would need less than half a year's salary to pay off their loans. The program ranks in the 60th percentile among Nebraska schools, which sounds modest until you realize there are only 9 programs statewide and the gap to UNL's $78,000 earners reflects Nebraska's broader tech salary landscape more than program quality.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. A few students landing at Omaha tech companies versus working small-town IT jobs could swing the median substantially. That said, the fundamentals look reasonable—graduates aren't buried in debt, and they're earning enough to service those loans comfortably from day one.

For families considering Doane, this program appears to deliver decent value if your student wants a small-school environment in rural Nebraska. The earnings won't match what UNL grads command right away, but the $5,000 gap isn't dramatic, and the intimate setting might better suit students who'd get lost at a large state university. Just recognize you're betting on limited data.