Computer and Information Sciences at Indian River State College

Indian River State College's computer science program presents an unusual pattern that should concern parents: graduates earn $49,049 in their first year but see earnings drop to $35,905 by year four—a 27% decline that runs counter to typical career trajectories in tech. While the program does rank at the 40th percentile among Florida's 39 computer science programs (meaning it's roughly middle-of-the-pack for the state), even that first-year figure falls well short of Florida's $57,000 median and dramatically trails top performers like UF ($91,000) or UCF ($69,000).

The one bright spot here is debt: at just $7,250, it's exceptionally low compared to the state median of $20,375, ranking in the 95th percentile nationally for affordability. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.15, graduates could theoretically pay off their loans quickly in that first year. However, this calculation ignores the earnings decline that follows, which suggests graduates may be landing entry-level tech jobs but struggling to advance—or perhaps leaving the field entirely.

For families considering this program, the math works only if your child can leverage that first job into better opportunities elsewhere or plans to continue their education. The combination of below-median starting salaries and declining earnings suggests this program may not be providing the skills or credentials needed for sustained career growth in computing, even accounting for its state college price point.