Computer Science at Point Loma Nazarene University

With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34, this program appears to be a workable investment based on what similar California computer science programs produce. The estimated $22,949 in debt sits modestly above the state median of $17,750, while first-year earnings around $68,400 align squarely with what most CA bachelor's programs in this field deliver. That puts graduates in a position to manage debt reasonably while building toward the strong mid-career salaries that computer science typically offers.

The challenge is knowing how Point Loma specifically performs. These figures come from peer programs across California because the school's graduate sample was too small for the DOE to report actual outcomes. For context, the state's top programs—Berkeley, Stanford, USC—produce first-year earnings roughly double these estimates, reflecting both their competitive admissions and the premium employers place on their brand. Point Loma's 82% admission rate and solid SAT profile suggest a capable but less selective student body, which may explain why outcomes would likely track closer to state medians than elite peaks.

The practical question is whether $23,000 in debt makes sense when you're estimating earnings based on other schools' results. If your child thrives in smaller, faith-based environments and has strong aptitude for technical work, the numbers suggest manageable risk. But if maximizing early-career earnings matters most, the gap between these estimates and California's top-performing programs is substantial enough to warrant serious comparison shopping.