Computer and Information Sciences at James Madison University

JMU's computer science graduates earn $81,761 right out of the gate—about $20,000 more than the national typical grad and $13,000 above Virginia's median for this program. With just $21,470 in debt (lower than both state and national averages), students here are paying off loans with roughly three months of earnings. This is a debt-to-earnings ratio that makes the program immediately affordable, even if graduates aren't commanding the elite salaries of UVA or Virginia Tech peers.

The real story is sustainable career trajectory. Earnings climb to $96,181 by year four, placing JMU grads within striking distance of the state's flagship programs while having started with significantly less debt. Yes, this ranks 60th percentile among Virginia CS programs—but that's misleading context when you're still outearning 95% of CS programs nationally. The state comparison reflects Virginia's exceptionally strong tech sector, not a weakness in JMU's outcomes.

For a school with a 76% admission rate, these numbers punch well above weight class. Your child gets strong earning power without the crushing debt or admissions lottery of elite competitors. If they can get into UVA or Tech, those might edge ahead slightly. But for most families, JMU delivers flagship-caliber outcomes at a fraction of the financial risk.