Computer and Information Sciences at Full Sail University

Full Sail's computer science program produces graduates earning about $53,000 in their first year—roughly $4,000 below Florida's median for CS programs and nearly $9,000 below the national average. That 40th percentile ranking among Florida schools is telling: you're paying private university prices (tuition runs over $25,000 annually) for outcomes that fall short of what most in-state public options deliver. Nearby University of Central Florida, for instance, sees its CS grads earning $69,000, a $16,000 premium that compounds significantly over a career.

The debt load itself isn't catastrophic at $24,252, translating to a manageable 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio. But context matters here: you're borrowing slightly more than the state median while earning considerably less. The economics work, but barely. For a field where starting salaries often exceed $70,000 at stronger programs, settling for $53,000 means leaving substantial money on the table from day one.

Full Sail's focus on accelerated, industry-oriented education has appeal, but the earnings data suggests employers aren't valuing these credentials at the same level as traditional universities. If your child has options at UF, UCF, or even Florida State, those represent materially better investments in computer science.