Computer Science at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

UL Lafayette's computer science program delivers exactly what matters for an in-state student: solid tech earnings at manageable debt. With graduates earning $62,452 in year one and $74,787 by year four, this program sits comfortably above Louisiana's median for computer science ($60,486) while keeping debt 20% below the national average. That 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child would owe less than five months' salary—a very workable number for a CS graduate.

The national ranking at the 30th percentile might look concerning at first glance, but context matters enormously here. Compare this to Tulane ($91K) and you're seeing private school tuition reflected in higher graduate salaries. Among Louisiana's public options—where most students will realistically attend—UL Lafayette performs in the 60th percentile and trails only Louisiana Tech among major state universities. The 20% earnings growth from year one to year four also suggests graduates are advancing steadily in their careers, not plateauing early.

For a Louisiana family, particularly one watching costs carefully (39% of students receive Pell grants), this program represents the practical path into tech: legitimate computer science training, reasonable debt load, and earnings that quickly outpace what you'd need to comfortably handle the loans. It won't match elite programs, but it delivers career-launching results without the financial strain.