Computer Science at Regis University

Regis University's computer science graduates earn above the state median from day one, then see their salaries jump 30% to $98,164 by year four—a trajectory that puts them among the strongest performers in Colorado's tech market. At the median salary, graduates match schools like UC Colorado Springs and stay competitive with Boulder grads, despite Regis being a smaller private university with an 87% admission rate.

The financial picture is particularly compelling: graduates carry about $30,000 in debt (higher than Colorado's $23,000 median but still reasonable) while earning $75,501 their first year. That 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio means debt equals less than five months of salary—manageable by any standard. The fact that this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt load is noteworthy; most computer science programs saddle students with significantly more.

The moderate sample size suggests some caution—outcomes could shift with more data—but the pattern is clear. Students here access Denver's booming tech economy without the sticker price or admission selectivity of schools like Colorado School of Mines, yet still see comparable mid-career earnings growth. For families seeking a direct path into well-paying tech jobs without betting on elite admissions or crushing debt, this delivers exactly what matters.