Computer and Information Sciences at Ohio University-Main Campus

Ohio University's computer science program sits well below what most tech employers pay entry-level developers, landing in just the 19th percentile nationally. That $48,515 starting salary falls $13,000 short of the national median for this degree, and the gap only widens when you look at Ohio's top programs—Ohio State grads earn $34,000 more right out of the gate. Even within Ohio's middling tech landscape (the state median is $49,837), this program barely reaches average, placing at the 40th percentile statewide.

The debt situation looks manageable on paper at $31,115, but that's because computer science students typically graduate with less debt elsewhere—the national median is just $25,000. When you pair higher-than-average borrowing with lower-than-average earnings, you get a debt-to-income ratio of 0.64, which means your child would be carrying debt equivalent to nearly eight months of their gross salary. The modest 9% earnings growth to year four suggests they're not quickly catching up to peers either.

If your child is set on Ohio University for other reasons (campus fit, specific opportunities), they could make this work—tech skills matter more than pedigree in many markets. But if maximizing earning potential matters, Cincinnati or Ohio State would deliver roughly $20,000 more annually for similar debt levels. In a field where starting salaries typically hit $60,000+, settling for $48,000 means leaving meaningful money on the table during crucial early-career years.