Computer Science at Texas College

A Computer Science degree from Texas College comes with an estimated $27,000 in debt—slightly above the state median—while comparable programs in Texas typically produce first-year earnings around $82,700. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, meaning graduates would owe roughly four months of their first year's salary, a manageable picture if these estimates hold true.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With 85% of students receiving Pell grants, Texas College serves a predominantly low-income population where degree completion and job placement outcomes matter enormously. Yet we're working with estimates derived from other Texas CS programs because this school's graduate sample is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual data. That could signal a newer program still building its track record, or simply small cohort sizes. Either way, parents should verify directly with the school: How many students have actually completed this program? Where are recent graduates working? What job placement support exists?

The estimated earnings align with other Texas programs and exceed the national median for CS degrees, which is encouraging. But Texas College isn't UT Arlington or Texas A&M—schools with established tech industry pipelines. Before committing, ask the school for verifiable graduate outcomes and speak with current students or recent alumni about their actual experiences breaking into the field.