Computer and Information Sciences at Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View A&M's computer science graduates earn $77,763 in their first year—ranking in the 80th percentile among Texas programs and beating the state median by more than $22,000. That's remarkable performance for a university serving a predominantly Pell Grant student body (62%), placing its graduates within striking distance of flagship programs like Texas A&M while charging far less. The debt picture reinforces this value: at $28,064, graduates carry manageable obligations that represent just 36% of their first-year earnings.

The modest 3% earnings growth to year four suggests these graduates already start strong rather than needing years to prove themselves. While they're not reaching Rice or UT Austin levels, they're competing effectively with graduates from Texas Tech and other respected programs—a significant achievement given Prairie View's open-door mission and the career opportunities it creates for first-generation and lower-income students.

One important caveat: this data comes from a small sample, so individual outcomes may vary more than at larger programs. Still, for Texas families watching their budget, Prairie View delivers computer science credentials that employers clearly value, with debt levels that won't derail your child's financial future. The combination of strong placement and accessible education makes this worth serious consideration.