Est. Earnings (1yr)
$62,111
Est. from NE median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,860
Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

In Nebraska, computer science programs range from state flagships offering strong job placement to smaller schools where outcomes vary considerably. Based on comparable programs in the state, Union Adventist's estimated first-year earnings of $62,111 align with the state median—roughly what graduates from Doane or UNK typically see—though well below what Nebraska-Lincoln produces at $78,000. The estimated $25,860 in debt falls slightly below both state and national medians, suggesting reasonable borrowing levels for this field.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 represents a manageable debt load by industry standards. Similar programs nationally produce earnings right around $61,000, meaning these estimates, while not specific to Union Adventist, reflect typical outcomes for computer science bachelor's programs. The real question is whether a small program with 100% admission (suggesting limited selectivity) can match the job placement networks and employer connections that larger Nebraska schools offer in this competitive field.

For parents, the financial framework looks workable if—and this is crucial—your student actually secures typical computer science employment. The uncertainty here isn't primarily about the estimates; it's about whether a small religious university can deliver the internships, career services, and alumni network that turn a CS degree into those median salaries. Before committing, have direct conversations with current students and recent graduates about their job search experiences and where they landed after graduation.

Where Union Adventist University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Nebraska

Computer and Information Sciences bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Nebraska (9 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Union Adventist UniversityLincoln$27,990$62,111*$25,860*
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln$10,108$78,017*$86,925$20,572*0.26
Doane UniversityCrete$40,491$63,451*$27,000*0.43
University of Nebraska at KearneyKearney$8,302$60,771**
Bellevue UniversityBellevue$8,886$60,188*$68,506$29,513*0.49
National Median$61,322*$25,000*0.41
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Network Architects

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Union Adventist University, approximately 24% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in NE. Actual outcomes may vary.