Computer and Information Sciences at University of Maine at Augusta

UMaine Augusta's Computer Science graduates start earning less than most CS programs nationally—landing in just the 21st percentile with first-year earnings of $49,843 versus a $61,322 national median. But here's what matters for Maine families: within the state, this program hits the 60th percentile, meaning it outperforms the typical Maine CS program. The debt load of $29,786 is actually higher than the national median, though the 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable. The 38% earnings jump to $68,606 by year four shows solid mid-career momentum.

The real question is whether staying in Maine makes financial sense. These earnings reflect Maine's tech salary market, which simply doesn't match Boston or other Northeast tech hubs. If your child plans to work in-state after graduation—where they'd be ahead of most CS graduates from other Maine schools—this becomes more defensible. If they're willing to relocate for higher-paying markets, they might want to consider stronger CS programs that better position them for competitive tech roles.

One major caveat: with fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, these numbers could shift significantly with a slightly different cohort. For a $30,000 investment, you're banking on Maine's regional tech market and accepting below-average national positioning in exchange for solid in-state outcomes.