Computer and Information Sciences at Lander University

Lander's computer science program produces first-year earnings of $59,232—modest for the field, landing below both the state median of $65,808 and the national median of $61,322. While debt here is estimated at $25,250 based on comparable programs at similar South Carolina institutions, that figure sits comfortably below what you'd typically see at state flagships. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 means graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary, a manageable starting point for a technical field with strong career trajectories.

The earnings gap tells a more complicated story. Top programs in the state—Clemson, USC Columbia, The Citadel—are seeing first-year earnings in the $68,000-$73,000 range, roughly $10,000-$14,000 more than Lander graduates. That's meaningful money when you're launching a career, though it's worth noting that Lander's more accessible admission profile (68% acceptance rate, 40% Pell recipients) suggests it's serving a different student population. The question becomes whether the lower debt load and smaller program might offer advantages in instruction quality or job placement support that aren't captured in these raw numbers.

For parents, the key consideration is this: computer science degrees generally pay off regardless of where they're earned, but Lander's outcomes lag state peers by enough that you should dig deeper. Ask specifically about internship pipelines, employer relationships, and where recent graduates actually landed jobs before committing.