Computer and Information Sciences at University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky's Computer Science program stands out sharply in its home state—graduates earn $81,070 four years out, placing this in the 80th percentile among Kentucky tech programs and roughly $30,000 above the state median. Only the University of Louisville comes close among Kentucky schools. The $71,293 starting salary already exceeds what most Kentucky CS graduates make at their mid-career point, and the 14% earnings growth suggests stable career trajectories rather than immediate plateaus.

The $22,250 in median debt sits comfortably below the national and state averages for this field, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31—meaning graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a year or two of focused repayment. For a state flagship with a 92% admission rate, these outcomes are notably strong. The robust sample size makes these figures reliable, not flukes from a handful of exceptional graduates.

For Kentucky families looking at in-state tech programs, this represents the strongest return on investment in the state. The combination of accessible admissions, moderate debt, and earnings that compete with national standards makes this a straightforward choice for students committed to computer science careers.