Computer and Information Sciences at Strayer University-Virginia

Strayer University's computer science program delivers solid earnings that outpace national averages, but the debt burden tells a more complicated story. Graduates earn $67,315 in their first year—well above the national median of $61,322—and see healthy 15% growth to $77,481 by year four. However, while these graduates perform better than most computer science programs nationally (65th percentile), they lag behind the Virginia median of $68,364, ranking in just the 40th percentile among state programs.

The real concern is the debt load. At $50,737, graduates carry roughly double the typical debt for computer science majors both nationally ($25,000) and in Virginia ($26,125). This puts Strayer in the bottom 5th percentile nationally for debt—meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with less debt. The 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but it's significantly higher than what students could achieve at Virginia's public universities, where top programs like UVA and Virginia Tech produce graduates earning $96,000+ with typically lower debt loads.

For families considering this program, the numbers suggest you're paying a premium for convenience or accessibility that may not justify the cost difference. While Strayer serves many Pell Grant recipients (55%) who might not have access to selective state schools, Virginia offers several strong public alternatives that deliver better financial outcomes for computer science students.