Computer Science at Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indiana University-Indianapolis graduates computer science majors with earnings that trail Purdue by $17,000 and IU-Bloomington by nearly $11,000 in their first year—a gap that persists four years out. At $67,181 starting, these graduates earn slightly below both state and national medians for CS programs, landing around the 40th percentile in both comparisons. The debt load of $25,000 is reasonable but not exceptional, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 that's manageable though unremarkable.

The 16% earnings growth to $77,924 by year four shows solid progression, but the initial earning disadvantage means graduates remain behind their peers at Indiana's flagship programs. For context, Rose-Hulman and Purdue graduates start nearly $30,000 higher, which compounds over a career. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests the data is reasonably stable, and the 81% admission rate indicates this is an accessible option for students who may not gain entry to more selective Indiana programs.

This program works for students who need to stay in Indianapolis and want a CS degree without the competition of Bloomington or West Lafayette. But families should understand they're accepting a earnings discount of roughly $10,000-15,000 annually compared to Indiana's stronger CS programs—a gap that could total hundreds of thousands over a career. If your student can get into IU-Bloomington or Purdue, the higher earnings justify the extra effort.