Computer and Information Sciences at Hampton University

Computer science programs in Virginia cluster heavily at the top, with UVA and Virginia Tech graduates exceeding $95,000 in first-year earnings. Hampton's estimated $68,000 sits at the state median but trails these flagship programs by $28,000 or more—a significant gap in a field where entry-level compensation varies dramatically by school reputation and recruiting pipelines.

The estimated $27,000 debt load produces a manageable 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would theoretically owe about five months of their first-year salary. That's reasonable for tech careers, which typically offer strong earning trajectories. However, the earnings estimate itself raises questions about outcomes consistency. With a 48% admission rate and average SAT of 1062, Hampton serves a different student population than Virginia's research universities, and the suppressed data here means we can't verify whether its graduates actually match the state median or fall below it.

The practical concern is opportunity cost. Computer science degrees from schools with established tech recruiting relationships often justify higher debt through substantially higher starting salaries. If Hampton's actual outcomes fall below the state median, the gap widens further. Before committing, verify Hampton's specific job placement rates and recruiting relationships with major tech employers—that's where the real value gap between programs emerges.