Computer and Information Sciences at Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern delivers exactly what computer science students need: strong starting salaries that grow significantly. With first-year earnings of $63,616 jumping to $83,106 by year four—a 31% increase—graduates are building momentum in their careers. At 60th percentile among Georgia programs, this beats the state median while keeping debt manageable at $23,750. That's nearly $4,000 below the typical Georgia CS program debt, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.37 that puts graduates on solid financial footing immediately.

The comparison to Georgia Tech's $105,000 starting salaries might seem stark, but context matters. Georgia Southern's 90% admission rate makes it accessible to far more students, and the earnings trajectory shows graduates aren't hitting a ceiling—they're gaining valuable skills that the market rewards. For families concerned about both admission odds and financial outcomes, this represents a practical path into tech without the debt burden that often accompanies private alternatives.

The strong sample size confirms these aren't outliers—this is the expected outcome. A student leaving with under $24,000 in debt and $63,000 in earning power can pay off loans quickly and start building wealth, all from a program that doesn't require exceptional test scores to enter. That's a straightforward value proposition for middle-class families.