Computer Science at Loyola University Maryland

Loyola's computer science program produces starting salaries roughly $10,000 below what Maryland CS grads typically earn, placing it in the bottom quarter both statewide and nationally. At $61,017, graduates earn less than counterparts at Towson ($71,795) and trail far behind UMD-College Park ($99,756) and UMBC ($83,684). Given that Loyola charges private tuition while delivering public-school outcomes, this creates a troubling value equation for a field where employers typically care more about skills than pedigree.

The debt picture offers little consolation. While $27,000 seems manageable—below both state and national medians—it's still higher than what students at Maryland's public universities typically carry. The 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio is reasonable for immediate repayment, but that assumes these salary figures hold up. The critical caveat here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates reporting, these numbers could shift dramatically year-to-year, making it difficult to predict whether your student's experience would match this data.

For a family paying private tuition, consider whether Loyola's smaller classes and personalized attention justify the earnings gap. Maryland's public universities offer more established CS programs with stronger placement numbers and lower costs. Unless the Jesuit environment and campus community are non-negotiables, the state's public options deliver measurably better career outcomes in this field.