Computer Science at University of Louisiana at Monroe

First-year earnings of $60,714 place this program right at Louisiana's median for computer science bachelor's degrees, though about $10,000 below the national benchmark. With debt estimated around $22,875 based on comparable Louisiana programs, graduates would face a manageable 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning less than five months of gross income to cover what they borrowed. That's a reasonable starting position for a tech career, particularly when Louisiana's lower cost of living stretches those dollars further than they would on either coast.

The catch is where this program sits competitively. While ULM performs solidly against most Louisiana schools, it trails the state's top programs by $8,000 to $30,000 in first-year earnings. Nationally, the picture is even tougher—the 26th percentile ranking means nearly three-quarters of computer science programs produce stronger early outcomes. For students who could gain admission to Louisiana Tech or ULL (both accessible public universities with 75%+ admission rates), those options show meaningfully higher returns. The question becomes whether ULM's location, campus culture, or specific strengths in your child's preferred tech specialty outweigh that earnings gap.

The debt load appears conservative enough that this program won't trap graduates, but don't expect it to position them at the front of the pack for competitive tech jobs. If Monroe is home or offers compelling reasons to stay local, the numbers work. Otherwise, Louisiana has better-performing alternatives at similar price points.