Computer Science at Houston Christian University

Computer science graduates in Texas typically earn strong first-year salaries, and Houston Christian's estimated $82,714 places it right at the state median—comparable to what Baylor reports and ahead of the $71,000 national benchmark. The estimated $27,000 debt load, while slightly above Texas and national medians for CS programs, produces a manageable 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates would owe roughly four months of their first-year salary, leaving substantial income for living expenses and loan repayment.

The caveat: these figures come from peer programs across Texas rather than Houston Christian's actual graduate outcomes, so there's inherent uncertainty about whether this specific program delivers similar results. The school's 54% Pell grant population suggests it serves many first-generation and lower-income students, who often face additional challenges in accessing the highest-paying tech opportunities. Houston's robust tech sector—with major employers in energy tech, healthcare IT, and aerospace—should provide solid local job prospects, but your child's success will depend heavily on securing internships and building technical skills beyond coursework.

For families comfortable with roughly $27,000 in debt, the estimated earnings trajectory looks promising enough to proceed, but push the school for concrete placement data: where do graduates actually work, and what do they earn? If they can't provide specifics, that's a red flag worth weighing seriously.