Computer and Information Sciences at University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

UConn Waterbury's computer science program punches well above its weight. Despite an 87% admission rate and a student body where half receive Pell grants, graduates earn $75,649 their first year—placing them in the 84th percentile nationally and matching Connecticut's state median. That's $14,000 more than the typical computer science graduate nationwide, and the trajectory only improves: by year four, median earnings reach $100,459, a 33% jump that signals strong career progression.

The financial setup is equally compelling. At under $20,000 in median debt—about $5,400 less than the national norm—graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.26. That means the typical borrower could theoretically pay off their entire debt in roughly three months of gross earnings. While this campus ranks middle-of-the-pack among Connecticut's computer science programs (60th percentile statewide), that's partly because the state's other strong programs set a high bar. The practical reality is simpler: graduates earn solid tech salaries from day one.

For families concerned about college costs, this represents accessible entry into a lucrative field. The combination of reasonable debt, strong initial earnings, and continued salary growth over the first four years creates a unusually low-risk path into tech careers. The only caveat is the moderate sample size, but the data consistency across UConn's system (Hartford and Avery Point campuses show identical medians) suggests these numbers are reliable.