Location: Goodwell, OK•In-State Tuition: $7,922•Out-of-State Tuition: $8,673
Median Earnings (1yr)
$46,721
16th percentile
25th percentile in Oklahoma
Est. Median Debt
$20,206
Est. from OK median (4 programs)
Sample: 18 graduates Limited data

Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,721 place this program in the bottom quarter of Oklahoma's computer science offerings, trailing state flagship programs by $15,000-$18,000 annually. While debt appears manageable at an estimated $20,206—based on other programs at Oklahoma Panhandle State—the earnings gap is what deserves attention. Computer science graduates typically command strong starting salaries, but this program's outcomes suggest graduates may be entering lower-paying IT support or regional tech roles rather than the software development positions that drive the field's reputation as a reliable investment.

The 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio looks reasonable on paper, but context matters. Most bachelor's programs in computer science offer stronger earning potential; the national median sits at $61,322, nearly $15,000 higher. For families weighing whether a four-year tech degree is worth the investment, this gap compounds quickly—it's not just one year of lower earnings, but potentially an entire career starting from a lower baseline. With 44% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on college to deliver economic mobility that higher-ranked programs more reliably provide.

If your child is set on Oklahoma Panhandle State for non-academic reasons—location, community, cost of attendance—this program can still lead to tech employment. But if outcomes are the priority, programs at Oklahoma State or University of Central Oklahoma demonstrate significantly stronger graduate earnings, suggesting better connections to employers or curriculum alignment with higher-paying roles.

Where Oklahoma Panhandle State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences bachelors's programs nationally

Oklahoma Panhandle State University (estimated ±10%)Other computer and information sciences programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Oklahoma Panhandle State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Oklahoma Panhandle State University earns $47k — 16th percentile among computer and information sciences bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Oklahoma

Computer and Information Sciences bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Oklahoma (16 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Oklahoma Panhandle State UniversityGoodwell$7,922$46,721—$20,206*—
University of Central OklahomaEdmond$8,522$64,320$89,163$20,212*0.31
Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater$10,234$61,514$83,663$23,759*0.39
Oklahoma State University Institute of TechnologyOkmulgee$5,774$58,844—$18,897*0.32
Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityDurant$7,200$55,922——*—
Southwestern Oklahoma State UniversityWeatherford$8,295$55,560——*—
National Median—$61,322—$25,000*0.41
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Network Architects

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Oklahoma Panhandle State University, approximately 44% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 18 graduates with reported earnings and 16 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.