Computer Science at Southern Methodist University

SMU's Computer Science program launches graduates into strong starting salaries—$93,679 in year one—that place them well above both national and Texas medians. But look closer at the Texas rankings: at the 60th percentile statewide, this program trails several public universities including West Texas A&M and UT Arlington, despite SMU's significantly higher selectivity and tuition. With only 12% of students on Pell grants and an admission rate of 61%, you're paying for a selective private school experience while getting earnings outcomes that good Texas public programs match or exceed.

The debt picture is reasonable at $26,000—slightly above state and national medians but manageable with that first-year salary. The 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates earn back their debt in roughly three months of work. Earnings growth to $106,128 by year four is solid, though the 13% increase is modest for tech roles where aggressive job-hopping often yields steeper gains.

For families comfortable with private school tuition, SMU delivers a respectable outcome with the university's Dallas connections and campus resources. But if you're choosing between SMU and Texas A&M or UT Arlington based purely on career returns, the data suggests the public options offer comparable or better value—particularly since they'll likely cost significantly less upfront.