Computer and Information Sciences at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

At a highly accessible public liberal arts college, computer science graduates are launching into $80,000+ starting salaries—roughly $8,000 above the state median and nearly $20,000 above the national benchmark. That's impressive for a school with a 92% admission rate, though the small graduating class (under 30 students) means individual outcomes can swing these numbers significantly.

The debt picture adds to the appeal: $22,500 is below both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.28—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under four months of gross earnings. While Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts doesn't match the stratospheric figures at Northeastern or Wellesley, it delivers strong tech industry access at a fraction of the cost. The 16% earnings growth to $93,000 by year four suggests graduates are progressing in their careers, not just landing lucky first jobs.

The caveat matters here. With fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, you're looking at a snapshot that could shift year to year. If your child thrives in smaller programs and wants tech career outcomes without the pressure-cooker environment of elite schools, this looks like solid value—but verify that the department still has strong industry connections, since small programs can be vulnerable to faculty turnover.