Computer and Information Sciences at University of Arizona

University of Arizona CS graduates start nearly $12,000 below the national median for their field and roughly $10,000 behind Arizona State grads. That's a significant gap in tech, where employers typically care more about skills than which Arizona school you attended. The program ranks in just the 25th percentile among Arizona computer science programs—meaning three-quarters of comparable in-state options deliver better initial outcomes.

The saving grace is strong earnings growth: graduates see a 41% jump from year one to year four, reaching nearly $70,000. This catch-up pattern suggests the program may emphasize fundamentals over immediately marketable skills, or that employers initially discount U of A tech grads before recognizing their value. The $26,000 median debt is manageable and slightly below state averages, yielding a reasonable 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio.

For in-state students choosing between Arizona's public universities, ASU's computer science program shows materially better outcomes at similar cost. Out-of-state families should carefully consider whether U of A's 86% admission rate and mid-tier outcomes justify premium tuition when stronger Arizona programs exist at comparable price points. The eventual earnings recovery is promising, but starting $12,000 behind peers means years of financial catch-up in a field where early career momentum matters.