Computer and Information Sciences at University of Houston-Clear Lake

UH-Clear Lake's Computer Science program produces starting salaries around $53,000—below both the Texas median ($55,172) and well behind the state's top performers like UT Austin ($111,587) and Texas A&M ($81,231). More concerning, earnings actually decline slightly by year four, dropping to $51,160. The program ranks at the 40th percentile among Texas CS programs, meaning six out of ten similar programs in the state deliver better outcomes. With debt of $28,143 (above the Texas median), graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, which is manageable but not ideal for a technical degree that typically commands higher pay.

The context matters here: UH-Clear Lake serves a high proportion of working adults and career changers in the Houston area, which may explain both the modest earnings and the unusual earnings pattern. However, these numbers are based on a small sample (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes could vary significantly. Houston's strong tech job market should theoretically support better CS salaries, making these figures somewhat disappointing.

For students targeting a solid CS career with strong earning potential, this program underperforms expectations. If cost is the primary concern and location flexibility matters, Texas offers substantially better options at similar price points, including Texas Tech and Texas A&M. If UH-Clear Lake is the only viable option due to location or part-time study needs, understand you're paying near-median debt for below-median outcomes in a state with many stronger CS programs.