Computer and Information Sciences at Oberlin College

Oberlin's computer science program comes with a significant earnings gap that warrants careful consideration. While comparable programs in Ohio suggest first-year earnings around $49,800, that's nearly $12,000 below the national median for CS bachelor's degrees and dramatically trailing the state's top programs—Ohio State grads earn about $32,000 more right out of the gate. At $26,500 in debt, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio that's reasonable by most standards, but the real issue is that starting salary.

The challenge here isn't the debt load—it's actually slightly below the national median for CS programs. The problem is what you're getting for that investment at a highly selective liberal arts college (33% admission rate, 1440 average SAT). Computer science is typically one of the most financially reliable majors, but when peer programs suggest earnings this far below industry norms, you're paying premium tuition for below-market outcomes. Only 9% of Oberlin students receive Pell grants, suggesting most families here can afford to prioritize the liberal arts experience over maximizing early-career earnings.

If your child is drawn to Oberlin's distinctive educational approach and your family can absorb potentially slower financial returns, the modest debt keeps this workable. But if the goal is to leverage a CS degree for strong immediate earnings, the data from similar Ohio programs suggests looking at schools with track records closer to $70,000—particularly the state's public research universities where actual outcomes are substantially higher.