Mathematics and Computer Science at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

UIUC's Mathematics and Computer Science program produces graduates earning nearly $110,000 straight out of college—about $33,000 more than other Illinois schools teaching the same degree and $20,000 above the national median. Among Illinois programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile, meaning only one or two other in-state options come close. The comparison to UIC's $44,000 median shows just how wide the gap is between top-tier computer science programs and the rest.

The debt picture is equally reasonable. At $23,350, graduates borrow roughly the national average for this field, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.21. That means the typical graduate could theoretically pay off their loans with about two and a half months of gross income. Even accounting for taxes and living expenses, this is manageable debt for these salary levels.

This is precisely the kind of outcome that justifies paying flagship university prices. The combination of UIUC's strong tech recruiting pipeline and relatively controlled borrowing creates a clear financial advantage over cheaper in-state alternatives. For students who can handle the competitive coursework and want to work in tech, this represents one of the better return-on-investment programs available in Illinois.