Computer and Information Sciences at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

FAMU's computer science program sits squarely in the middle of Florida's options—ranking at the 40th percentile statewide with graduates earning $55,617 in their first year. That's $6,000 below Florida's median and roughly $10,000 below the typical CS grad nationwide. The debt picture is reasonable at $24,500, just slightly above Florida's state median, yielding a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio. Four years out, earnings climb to $59,031, showing steady but modest growth.

The real question is opportunity cost. Florida has 39 CS programs, and several public options like University of Central Florida ($68,793 first-year earnings) deliver significantly stronger outcomes. FAMU serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (56%) and maintains selective admissions, suggesting it provides valuable access for students who might not have other options. The earnings gap isn't catastrophic—graduates are entering legitimate tech careers with manageable debt—but parents should know this program doesn't match the stronger financial returns available at other Florida schools.

For families choosing between FAMU and higher-performing state alternatives with similar tuition, the earnings difference compounds to roughly $50,000 over four years. If FAMU offers better financial aid packages or if your student has strong personal reasons to attend, the program is serviceable. Otherwise, this is a case where shopping around Florida's public university system could meaningfully improve long-term financial outcomes.