Computer and Information Sciences at Tennessee Wesleyan University

Peer institutions in Tennessee suggest a first-year salary around $58,000 for computer science bachelor's graduates, which would put this program right at the state median—though notably below the national benchmark of $61,300. With an estimated debt load of $25,900, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 falls within manageable territory for a technical degree, meaning graduates would owe roughly half their first-year salary.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Tennessee Wesleyan's small graduate sample means we're extrapolating from what happens at comparable schools rather than tracking actual outcomes for TWU alumni. The state's computer science programs show significant variation—from $49,900 at King University to $67,300 at Strayer—and without program-specific data, it's difficult to know where Tennessee Wesleyan truly lands. The school's 38% Pell Grant rate suggests it serves many price-sensitive families, which makes the accuracy of these projections particularly important.

Given the debt estimate aligns closely with national norms and the earnings projection sits at Tennessee's median, the financial fundamentals appear reasonable on paper. However, before committing to a program where outcomes aren't yet tracked, verify what percentage of recent graduates actually secured technical roles and ask about employer relationships in the Athens area and beyond. The gap between a solid but average outcome and a weak one can be substantial in computer science.