Computer and Information Sciences at Rice University

Rice computer science graduates earn $131,154 in their first year—nearly double the national median and $20,000 more than UT Austin, the next best Texas program. With minimal debt of $12,381, the financial equation is straightforward: graduates owe roughly one month's salary. This puts Rice at the 95th percentile both nationally and within Texas for both earnings and low debt burden.

The trajectory only improves from there, with median earnings jumping to $172,391 by year four. This 31% growth suggests graduates are rapidly advancing into senior engineering roles or tech leadership positions. While the 8% admission rate means this option isn't available to most students, those who gain admission are making an exceptional investment—debt represents just 9% of first-year earnings, well below the concerning 100% threshold that signals financial stress.

For families who can secure admission and find Rice's net cost manageable (16% receive Pell grants, suggesting limited financial aid for middle-income families), this represents one of the strongest computer science outcomes in the country. The moderate sample size of 30-100 graduates provides reasonable confidence in these figures without the volatility of smaller cohorts.