Computer and Information Sciences at Dordt University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 suggests manageable financing for a bachelor's in computer science, though the limited graduate pool at Dordt means these figures come from comparable Iowa programs rather than this specific school's outcomes. The estimated $60,400 first-year earnings align precisely with the state median and track closely with national benchmarks, while the projected $25,860 debt sits slightly above both state and national norms. For context, Iowa's tech sector offers consistent entry-level opportunities, with Drake graduates commanding a premium but state schools like Iowa State and University of Iowa producing similar outcomes to what Dordt's program might deliver.

What's worth noting is that small graduate cohorts at specialized institutions like Dordt can mean highly variable individual outcomes—a few exceptional placements or struggles can significantly shift the picture in either direction. The 18% Pell grant rate suggests a relatively affluent student body, which might indicate strong family networks for internship and job connections, but that's speculation rather than data. Computer science programs generally justify their debt loads through solid starting salaries, and if Dordt's graduates perform like their Iowa peers, the roughly two-fifths debt-to-earnings ratio would support that pattern.

The key uncertainty here is whether Dordt's Christian liberal arts approach to CS education translates into comparable career preparation. If their graduates match state outcomes, this looks reasonable; if they significantly lag, that debt becomes harder to service. Without actual placement data, you're betting on peer program performance rather than proven results.