Computer and Information Sciences at Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern Louisiana's computer science program punches above its weight within Louisiana, landing in the 60th percentile statewide with $55,786 first-year earnings—well ahead of the state median of $48,184 and even outperforming larger programs like UL Lafayette. That's noteworthy for a school with a 94% admission rate and modest SAT averages. The debt load of $22,952 is reasonable, translating to a manageable 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio that gives graduates breathing room early in their careers.

The catch is scale and national standing. With fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, outcomes can swing dramatically year to year, making these numbers less reliable predictors than data from larger programs. Nationally, the program sits below average at the 36th percentile, trailing the $61,322 median by about $5,500. That gap matters if your child has ambitions for competitive tech hubs outside Louisiana.

For students planning to work in Louisiana's tech sector—where this program clearly performs well—the combination of moderate debt and solid regional outcomes makes sense. But if your child is eyeing jobs in Austin, Atlanta, or beyond, consider whether starting $5,500 behind the national average creates unnecessary headwinds. The small cohort size means one exceptional or disappointing graduating class could skew the picture considerably.