Computer and Information Sciences at Plymouth State University

Plymouth State's computer science graduates earn $65,516 in their first year—solidly above the national median and tied for second among New Hampshire's public universities in this field. While the debt figure of $27,000 is an estimate based on similar programs at the school (the graduate cohort was too small for the DOE to report actual debt), that figure would produce a healthy 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio if accurate. Computer science programs typically offer strong financial returns, and Plymouth State's outcomes support that pattern.

The $10,000+ earnings gap compared to University of New Hampshire's graduates matters, but context is important: UNH is the state's flagship research university with deeper tech industry connections, while Plymouth State serves a different mission with its 91% admission rate and focus on access. The real concern would be if debt substantially exceeded the estimate—at $27,000, the math works, but at $40,000 or higher, you'd be looking at a different calculation entirely.

For a family evaluating this program, the actual debt your student would incur is the critical unknown. Request net price estimates and ask the financial aid office about typical debt loads for computer science majors specifically. If the real number stays close to the state median, Plymouth State offers a practical path into a field where first-year earnings in the mid-$60s can absorb moderate debt comfortably. If it runs significantly higher, you're better off comparing total costs against UNH or Southern New Hampshire.