Computer and Information Sciences at Johnson C Smith University

Johnson C Smith's computer science program shows a concerning pattern that should worry any parent considering a nearly $200,000 investment. While graduates earn just $29,621 in their first year—ranking in the bottom 10% statewide and putting them well below even non-tech fields—the earnings do eventually rebound to $54,628 by year four. That recovery brings graduates roughly to North Carolina's median for the field, but still $7,000 below the national benchmark and nowhere near what peers earn at UNC Charlotte ($60,639) or NC Central ($74,597).

The $31,000 debt load isn't extreme on its own, but paired with that dismal first-year salary, it creates immediate financial stress. Recent graduates face debt exceeding their annual income, making standard loan repayments difficult during those crucial early career years. Even after the earnings jump, they're playing catch-up compared to graduates from other North Carolina programs who started stronger and maintained that advantage.

The small sample size here matters—we're likely looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift significantly with more data. But right now, this program appears to be preparing students for entry-level positions that tech graduates elsewhere skip entirely. If your child has acceptances from other NC public universities for computer science, those represent safer bets with clearer paths to competitive tech salaries from day one.