Computer Programming at Idaho State University

A $50,000 starting salary for a computer programming bachelor's degree tracks with national norms, but understand that this figure—along with the $25,000 debt estimate—comes from peer programs across the country, not Idaho State's actual graduate outcomes. The DOE suppresses data when sample sizes are too small, which leaves parents navigating this decision with borrowed benchmarks rather than school-specific results.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.5 suggests a manageable financial picture if these numbers hold true, meaning roughly six months of first-year salary to cover the debt. That's considerably better than the national median debt of $31,000 for programming degrees. However, Idaho State is the only institution in the state offering this particular bachelor's program, which means there's no local comparison point to gauge whether this estimate reflects Idaho's tech market realities or the state's particular mix of programming opportunities.

Given Idaho State's 27% Pell grant population and Pocatello's distance from major tech hubs, the actual outcomes could diverge from national patterns. Before committing, contact the computer science department directly and ask what percentage of recent graduates are working in programming roles, what their actual starting salaries look like, and whether local employers recruit on campus. The estimation uncertainty here isn't a red flag about the program itself—it's simply a reality of smaller cohorts—but it does mean you'll need to do additional legwork that wouldn't be necessary at programs with published outcomes.