Location: Little Rock, AR•In-State Tuition: $8,455•Out-of-State Tuition: $19,210•Admission Rate: 58%•Avg SAT: 1049
Median Earnings (1yr)
$54,817
33rd percentile
60th percentile in Arkansas
Median Debt
$22,650
9% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.41 ManageableSample: 45 graduates

Analysis

UALR's computer science program delivers solid value for Arkansas students, hitting the sweet spot between affordability and career outcomes. While graduates earn about 10% below the national median at $54,817, they carry $22,650 in debt—lower than both national and state averages. That 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a year or two of focused repayment, a reasonable trade-off for in-state students.

The state context matters here: UALR ranks in the 60th percentile among Arkansas tech programs, landing solidly in the middle of the pack. You're not getting University of Arkansas-level earnings ($59,857), but you're also not at the bottom tier. For families weighing cost against outcomes, UALR's accessibility (58% admission rate, significant Pell population) combined with manageable debt makes it a practical choice, especially if proximity to Little Rock's tech employers matters for internships and networking.

The bottom line: This program won't catapult your child to the highest-paying tech jobs, but it provides reliable entry to the field without crushing debt. For Arkansas residents looking at in-state options, UALR represents a sensible middle ground—not the most lucrative outcome, but far from a financial gamble.

Where University of Arkansas at Little Rock Stands

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

University of Arkansas at Little RockOther computer and information sciences programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Arkansas at Little Rock earns $55k — 33th percentile among computer and information sciences bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Arkansas

Computer and Information Sciences bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Arkansas (11 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Arkansas at Little RockLittle Rock$8,455$54,817—$22,6500.41
Strayer University-ArkansasLittle Rock$13,920$67,315$77,481$50,7370.75
University of ArkansasFayetteville$9,748$59,857$91,279$26,5000.44
University of Central ArkansasConway$10,118$57,912$59,965$25,9010.45
University of Arkansas-Fort SmithFort Smith$6,906$51,896$71,999$21,8230.42
Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro$7,754$46,227$69,348$23,2040.50
National Median—$61,322—$25,0000.41

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 University of Arkansas at Little Rock, approximately 41% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 45 graduates with reported earnings and 37 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.