Computer and Information Sciences at Texas Christian University

TCU's computer science program produces first-year earnings of $76,826—well above both the Texas median of $55,172 and the national median of $61,322. That puts graduates ahead of 80% of their in-state peers and 87% of programs nationally, suggesting this degree delivers meaningfully stronger outcomes than most alternatives.

The estimated debt of $24,059 comes from comparable private programs in Texas, and that figure produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31—comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold. Based on similar programs at peer institutions, graduates would need roughly four months of gross income to cover their undergraduate debt, which represents a manageable burden for this salary level. What matters more here is the earnings trajectory: computer science graduates typically see strong salary growth beyond that first year, and TCU's positioning in the 87th percentile nationally suggests this program competes effectively with much larger state schools.

However, the program still trails Rice ($131,154) and UT Austin ($111,587) significantly—schools that may offer similar recruitment pipelines to top tech employers at lower cost for in-state students. TCU's value comes from its smaller setting and personalized approach. If your student thrives in that environment and has realistic expectations about competing for positions against graduates from flagship programs, the debt load appears reasonable for the earnings potential.