Computer and Information Sciences at Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indiana University-Indianapolis computer science graduates see impressive earnings growth—jumping from $54,564 to $78,397 over four years—but they start well behind their in-state peers. While that 44% increase suggests solid career progression, first-year earnings fall about $7,000 short of Indiana's median and nearly $7,000 below the national benchmark. Within Indiana, this program ranks at the 40th percentile, trailing not just elite options like Notre Dame and Purdue's main campus, but also regional alternatives like Purdue Northwest.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $25,780, graduates carry manageable loans with a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one. That's close to national norms and improves significantly as salaries climb. By year four, graduates are earning competitive tech salaries that justify the initial investment.

The catch is waiting out those early years. If your child can accept lower starting pay—perhaps living at home or in a lower-cost area initially—the trajectory looks promising. But families seeking immediate return on investment might find better value at Purdue's main campus or even Bloomington, where graduates start $8,000-$18,000 higher. For students admitted to IU-Indianapolis's open-access program, this represents a viable path into tech careers, just not the fastest one.