Computer and Information Sciences at Lehigh University

Lehigh's Computer Science program places graduates $26,000 above Pennsylvania's typical computer science graduate and $22,000 above the national median—strong earnings that put it in the 95th percentile nationally. While Penn and Swarthmore lead the state, Lehigh clusters with Villanova and Wilkes at the top tier, delivering outcomes that justify its selective admissions profile.

The debt picture is notably favorable. At $24,019, graduates carry $3,000 less than Pennsylvania's median for this field and slightly less than the national benchmark. That creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in less than four months. Earnings growth to $95,000 by year four suggests graduates are landing solid technical roles with room for advancement, not just entry-level positions.

For a parent weighing a selective private university against state alternatives, Lehigh offers something tangible: top-tier earnings with less debt than most Pennsylvania computer science programs carry. The 80th percentile ranking in Pennsylvania is slightly less dominant than the national showing, but that's largely because Penn's exceptional outcomes skew the state's upper end. For families who can manage the remaining costs beyond this debt level, you're looking at one of the state's strongest computer science ROI profiles.