Computer and Information Sciences at Mount Saint Mary's University

For a program serving predominantly middle-income students—55% receive Pell grants—the estimated $25,000 debt load matches the national median but exceeds California's typical $19,000, which matters when you're aiming at a competitive tech market. Similar computer science bachelor's programs in California suggest first-year earnings around $54,000, putting this debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.46. That's reasonable on paper, but there's a notable gap: peer programs at comparable California institutions are producing graduates who earn $61,000 nationally and $54,000 statewide, while top programs in the state are seeing outcomes in the $80,000-$136,000 range.

The challenge here is twofold. First, these are estimates based on other California programs since Mount Saint Mary's cohort size is too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. Second, even if these estimates hold true, your child would be entering a field where California employers can choose from graduates of UC Berkeley, UCLA, and other programs with substantially stronger placement records. The tech industry is notoriously credential-sensitive, and a degree from a less-known program may require additional effort to compete for top positions, even if the technical training is solid. Given the uncertainty and the competitive landscape, this works best for students who have specific reasons to attend—location, community, fit—beyond purely financial considerations.