Computer and Information Sciences at Texas State University

Texas State's computer science program starts graduates at $52,274—below both the state and national medians—but shows strong upward momentum with earnings jumping 35% to $70,772 by year four. While the initial salary puts this program in the 40th percentile among Texas CS programs, the debt picture offers a meaningful advantage: at $21,046, graduates carry roughly $4,000 less debt than the Texas median. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40, most graduates can realistically pay off their loans within two to three years while building their careers.

The starting salary gap matters. Rice and UT Austin graduates earn roughly double what Texas State CS grads make initially, and even mid-tier state options like Texas Tech start $30,000 higher. For students who can access those programs, the earnings difference likely justifies any additional costs. However, Texas State's 89% admission rate makes it far more accessible, and the strong earnings growth suggests graduates are finding their footing in the tech industry after gaining some experience.

This program makes sense for students who need an affordable entry point into tech and are willing to start at smaller companies or less competitive markets. The combination of manageable debt and solid mid-career earnings provides a reasonable path, though families should understand their student will likely start behind peers from more selective programs—and may need to work harder early on to close that gap.