Computer and Information Sciences at Ohio University-Lancaster Campus

Ohio University-Lancaster's computer science program falls short of what families should expect from a tech degree. Starting salaries of $48,515 trail the national median by over $12,000, and more troublingly, lag behind the Ohio median as well—placing graduates at the 40th percentile statewide. When other Ohio programs like Wright State and UC produce graduates earning $69,000+, and even the state median hits nearly $50,000, this campus struggles to compete.

The debt burden adds to the concern. At $31,115, graduates here carry more debt than 84% of computer science programs nationally, while earning less than 81% of their peers. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 isn't catastrophic, but it means students are borrowing heavily for below-average outcomes. Modest 9% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates aren't rapidly catching up to their peers elsewhere.

For families committed to staying local in Lancaster, understand you're accepting a significant earnings discount—roughly $20,000 less annually than graduates from Ohio State or Cincinnati in the same field. If commuting to Columbus or another major Ohio campus is feasible, the investment in a stronger program would likely pay off within the first year of employment. This isn't the worst option in Ohio, but it's far from the best in a state with considerably stronger computer science programs.