Computer Science at Southern California Institute of Technology

Computer science programs in California produce wildly different outcomes, and Southern California Institute of Technology's estimated figures suggest a middling result at a concerning cost. Similar programs across the state point to first-year earnings around $68,400—respectable for a bachelor's degree but nowhere near the six-figure salaries that top California programs regularly deliver. The real issue is the estimated debt load of $38,400, which is more than double the state median of $17,750 for computer science degrees.

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 isn't catastrophic, but it matters when you're competing for tech jobs against Berkeley and USC graduates who carry far less debt and command significantly higher starting salaries. The school's 88% admission rate and high Pell grant population (71%) indicate it's serving students who may have fewer alternatives, which makes the debt premium even more troubling. A computer science degree should be a reliable path to financial stability, but borrowing twice the state average undermines that advantage.

If your child has other options—particularly California State Universities or community college transfer pathways to UC schools—those routes typically produce comparable or better outcomes with substantially less debt. If this is the only accessible program, understand that success will depend heavily on building skills and connections outside the classroom, because the credential alone won't open doors the way more established programs do.