Computer and Information Sciences at The College of Saint Scholastica

At first glance, Saint Scholastica's computer science program looks solid nationally—decent starting salary, manageable debt, and strong 30% earnings growth over four years. But the Minnesota context tells a more concerning story: graduates here earn about $14,000 less in year one than the state median, ranking in just the 25th percentile among the state's 13 computer science programs. That's a significant gap when even schools like Minnesota State-Mankato are placing graduates $11,000 higher.

The debt load of $25,000 is perfectly reasonable, and the 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can manage payments without strain. The real question is opportunity cost. Minnesota has excellent computer science programs at comparable or lower prices—state schools especially—that deliver substantially better starting outcomes. The strong earnings trajectory helps narrow this gap over time, with four-year earnings reaching nearly $80,000, but you're still playing catch-up to peers who started ahead.

For Minnesota families, this program makes the most sense if your student has compelling reasons to attend Saint Scholastica specifically—perhaps its smaller environment or location in Duluth matters significantly. Otherwise, the in-state alternatives offer better bang for your tuition dollar, particularly the public universities that deliver higher earnings at similar or lower debt levels.