Computer and Information Sciences at Strayer University-South Carolina

Strayer University's computer science program produces solid earnings that outperform most national programs, but the debt burden tells a more complicated story. Graduates earn $67,315 in their first year—ranking in the 65th percentile nationally and 60th percentile among South Carolina programs. While these earnings trail top state schools like Clemson ($73,374) by about $6,000, they're competitive with established universities like College of Charleston.

The concerning factor is debt: at $50,737, graduates carry nearly double the debt load of typical computer science students both nationally ($25,000) and in South Carolina ($26,875). This places Strayer in the 95th percentile for debt—meaning 95% of similar programs require less borrowing. The 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic for a high-demand field like tech, but it's substantially higher than most alternatives.

The program does show positive momentum with 15% earnings growth over four years, and the robust sample size (100+ graduates) makes these numbers reliable. However, families should weigh whether the premium debt is worth paying when in-state public options like USC-Columbia offer similar starting salaries ($68,597) at likely much lower cost. For students already committed to Strayer, the career prospects are decent, but exploring state universities first makes financial sense.