Computer and Information Sciences at George Mason University

George Mason University's computer science program delivers strong financial outcomes that significantly outperform national expectations, though it sits in the middle of Virginia's competitive tech education landscape. With first-year earnings of $78,800—ranking in the 91st percentile nationally—graduates earn nearly $30,000 more than the typical computer science graduate nationwide. However, among Virginia programs, this ranks only at the 60th percentile, reflecting the state's overall strength in tech education.

The debt picture is reasonable at $23,250, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 that's well below concerning levels. This debt load is actually lower than both national and state medians for the field. The 21% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests solid career progression, with graduates reaching nearly $95,000 by their fourth year out.

While GMU doesn't crack the top tier of Virginia tech programs—trailing UVA and Virginia Tech by significant margins—it offers excellent value for a school with an 89% admission rate. The robust sample size gives confidence in these numbers. For families seeking strong computer science outcomes without the ultra-competitive admissions of Virginia's flagship programs, GMU represents a smart middle ground that delivers well above national performance standards at a reasonable debt level.