Computer and Information Sciences at Emmaus Bible College

The estimated $25,860 in debt for this tech-focused bachelor's degree tracks closely with national norms, while the earnings picture—based on just three Iowa programs—suggests first-year income around $60,400. That puts graduates in a manageable position with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43, meaning they'd owe roughly five months of gross income. For computer science, this is solid footing: similar programs across the country typically generate enough earning power to handle these debt loads within a few years.

What's harder to pin down is how Emmaus Bible College specifically prepares students compared to larger Iowa tech programs. The college's small size (which necessitates these estimates) and religious mission create a distinctly different environment from state universities or Drake, where computer science graduates earn anywhere from $60,000 to nearly $70,000 their first year. The $1,109 average SAT and 98% admission rate signal an accessible program, but whether that translates to comparable job placement and starting salaries remains unclear without actual graduate data.

The fundamental question is whether this particular combination—Bible college setting, estimated outcomes, limited program size—works for your child's career goals in tech. The estimated debt burden looks manageable if the earnings estimates hold true, but with no track record to verify, you're essentially betting that this small program performs like Iowa's median rather than falling below it.