Computer and Information Sciences at Lakewood University

Based on comparable computer science programs in Ohio, Lakewood graduates might expect first-year earnings around $49,800—roughly $20,000 below top state programs like Ohio State and Cincinnati. Estimated debt of $25,900 keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.52, meaning graduates would owe about half their first-year salary. But that earnings gap matters: similar programs at Wright State and Miami produce starting salaries $16,000 to $32,000 higher, which compounds significantly over a career in tech.

The fact that fewer than 5% of Lakewood students receive Pell grants suggests this isn't serving many price-sensitive families, yet the outcomes data is too limited to verify what value students are actually receiving. Computer science credentials typically offer strong returns—the national median for bachelor's programs is $61,300—but Ohio's market shows wild variation depending on where you earn your degree. Without knowing how Lakewood's specific graduates fare in the job market, you're betting on a field with strong fundamentals but choosing a program with no track record you can examine. If your child has admission offers from programs with transparent outcomes data showing $65,000+ starting salaries, those represent safer bets in a field where employer perception of your degree source matters considerably.