Computer Science at St Olaf College

St. Olaf's computer science graduates start strong at $82,278, placing them slightly ahead of flagship U of M and well above the state median of $72,865. That's impressive for a liberal arts college with a 52% admission rate. The debt load of $23,875 translates to a manageable 0.29 ratio—about three and a half months of first-year salary—making this one of the more affordable paths into tech among Minnesota's private colleges.

The catch? This data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly from these medians. Small programs can swing wildly year-to-year depending on where just a handful of students land jobs. That said, the 11% earnings growth to $91,084 by year four suggests graduates are progressing well in their careers, not just landing lucky first jobs. At 60th percentile among Minnesota CS programs, St. Olaf sits comfortably in the top half of the state.

For families weighing St. Olaf against larger tech-focused universities, the numbers suggest the liberal arts approach doesn't handicap computer science graduates in the job market. The debt-to-earnings ratio beats many flagship programs, and starting salaries rival much larger departments. Just remember these figures represent a small cohort—your child's experience will depend heavily on their individual preparation and job search.