Computer Science at University of Dayton

University of Dayton's Computer Science program places graduates just above the middle of the pack both nationally and within Ohio, with $74,052 in first-year earnings—roughly $200 more than Ohio's median. While that's solid performance, it falls notably short of what nearby Case Western Reserve achieves ($95,688), suggesting families are paying for a Catholic, residential experience rather than cutting-edge technical outcomes. The $25,000 in median debt is reasonable and keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.34, meaning graduates owe roughly four months of their first-year salary.

The bigger concern here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, which makes these figures less reliable than programs with hundreds of data points. This could mean the department is quite small, limiting networking opportunities and course variety, or that many graduates didn't complete financial aid paperwork. Either way, it's a red flag worth investigating during campus visits.

For an anxious parent, the math works if your child values Dayton's community and teaching focus, but this isn't the program to choose if maximizing tech-sector earnings is the priority. Franklin University and Cedarville deliver similar or better outcomes at likely lower sticker prices, while Case Western offers substantially more earning power for students who can get in and afford it.