Computer and Information Sciences at Thomas More University

Similar computer science programs in Kentucky suggest first-year earnings around $50,500 for Thomas More's graduates—nearly $11,000 below the national median for this degree. With an estimated $25,860 in debt, the ratio stays reasonable at 0.51, meaning graduates would owe roughly half their first annual salary. But that comparison only tells part of the story when peer programs in the state are producing substantially different outcomes.

The gap is striking when you look at Kentucky's largest tech employers. University of Kentucky grads in this field start at $71,300, while University of Louisville and Northern Kentucky University both exceed $62,000. Even Western Kentucky, at the lower end of reported state data, matches Thomas More's estimated figure. For a private university charging tuition that likely generates that $25,860 debt load, comparable programs are producing 15-40% higher starting salaries. The 97% admission rate and below-average SAT scores suggest Thomas More serves students who might not qualify elsewhere, but that doesn't change the financial calculus facing families.

The practical question is whether this program justifies its cost when state universities are producing better earnings outcomes—sometimes dramatically so—often with lower debt. If your child has options at UK, UofL, or NKU, the data strongly favors those alternatives. Thomas More might make sense if geography or smaller class sizes matter significantly, but only if you're comfortable with earnings that lag behind what Kentucky's tech job market typically pays computer science graduates.