Computer and Information Sciences at Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University's computer science program lands right in the middle of Arizona's options—beating University of Phoenix slightly at $59,500 versus $59,291, but trailing Arizona State's $71,000+ significantly. That $11,500 earnings gap matters, though GCU students graduate with about $1,900 less debt than ASU's typical borrower.

The debt situation is actually this program's strongest selling point. At $29,750, graduates owe half of what they earn in their first year—a manageable ratio that ranks in the 19th percentile nationally (meaning 81% of similar programs leave students with more debt). Compare this to the typical CS graduate nationally who owes $25,000 but earns slightly more, and GCU's numbers reflect a reasonable trade-off for a school with a 43% Pell grant population serving students who might otherwise struggle to access tech careers.

The real question is whether the convenience or specific attributes of GCU justify earning $11,000+ less than ASU grads. If your child can get into ASU (similar admission rates, slightly higher test scores), the earnings premium likely outweighs any debt difference over a career. But for students who need GCU's flexibility or support systems, the program delivers employable outcomes with debt that won't dominate their paycheck—you're looking at roughly $300-350 monthly loan payments on a $4,900 monthly salary.