Computer Science at Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue's computer science graduates earn $94,786 in their first year—nearly 40% more than the typical Indiana CS grad and well above the national median. Only Rose-Hulman produces higher-earning computer science graduates in the state, and Purdue achieves this at a fraction of Rose-Hulman's likely cost. With debt-to-earnings of just 0.20, most graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of work, though the reality involves living expenses too.

The numbers get better with time: earnings jump to $116,601 by year four, a 23% increase that shows Purdue's degree opens doors to career progression rather than just entry-level jobs. Among Indiana programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile—beating out well-regarded schools like IU-Bloomington and DePauw. Nationally, it performs even more impressively, landing in the 90th percentile against 739 competing programs.

The one weak spot is debt: at $19,375, it's lower than both state and national medians, but still falls in the 75th percentile nationally—meaning a quarter of CS programs manage to send graduates out with even less debt. Given Purdue's 50% admission rate and strong academic profile (1342 average SAT), this represents an accessible path to elite outcomes. For families prioritizing return on investment in computer science, this is exactly what you're looking for.