Computer and Information Sciences at Texas Tech University

Texas Tech is quietly outperforming most of the state's flagship programs in computer science outcomes. While its graduates earn less than Rice or UT Austin alumni, they're matching Texas A&M's numbers and landing at the 80th percentile among Texas programs—despite Tech's 71% admission rate suggesting a more accessible student body. More impressively, these graduates are hitting $82,521 in their first year, which puts them in the 95th percentile nationally, far above the $61,322 national median.

The financial picture is clean: $23,197 in median debt translates to just 28% of first-year earnings, and graduates see steady 11% growth to over $91,000 by year four. This trajectory suggests stability in the tech sector rather than artificial inflation from signing bonuses that disappear. The debt level sits right at Texas's median for CS programs, meaning students aren't paying a premium while getting top-tier results.

For families looking at Texas public universities, Tech represents exceptional value—particularly for students who might not gain admission to UT Austin but want comparable career outcomes without the cost or competition of private schools. The robust sample size confirms these aren't outlier results, and the combination of strong starting salaries with manageable debt makes this one of the state's most reliable paths into tech careers.