Computer Science at University of Denver

University of Denver's computer science program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground within Colorado's competitive tech education landscape. While the $72,250 starting salary looks reasonable on paper—slightly above the national median—it trails the state median by over $3,000 and ranks in just the 40th percentile among Colorado CS programs. When you're paying private university tuition at a school with a 71% admission rate, falling below nearby public options like CU Boulder ($77,385) and even Metropolitan State ($73,874) should raise questions about return on investment.

The $22,000 debt figure provides some relief to this picture. It's below both state and national medians, suggesting Denver controls costs better than its peer institutions. The 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can reasonably manage their loans, particularly given that computer science salaries typically grow substantially beyond the first year. Still, students are essentially paying for a private school experience while getting middle-of-the-pack outcomes in a state where public universities deliver stronger earnings potential.

For families considering Denver's CS program, understand you're making a choice based on factors beyond pure career economics—perhaps the university's quarter system, smaller class sizes, or campus culture justify the premium. But if maximizing early career earnings is the priority, Colorado offers several stronger options at lower total cost.