Mathematics and Computer Science at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

Computer science-focused bachelor's degrees typically launch graduates into strong earnings, but UMass Dartmouth's program shows a significant gap worth examining. While national peer programs suggest first-year earnings around $90,000—a solid start for most fields—Massachusetts graduates from similar programs typically earn $126,000, with MIT grads hitting that median exactly. That $36,000 difference matters when you're calculating return on investment, even with the relatively modest estimated debt of $24,000 from comparable programs.

The 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio based on these estimates looks manageable on paper, but it assumes your child will land closer to the national pattern than the state one. Massachusetts has a robust tech sector with competitive salaries, which raises the question of whether graduates from this program access those opportunities at the same rate as peers from other in-state schools. The 92% admission rate and below-average SAT scores suggest UMass Dartmouth serves a different student population than MIT, but whether that translates to different employment outcomes isn't clear from the available data.

Given the uncertainty, focus on outcomes the school can actually document: job placement rates, employer partnerships, and where recent graduates work. If most land at local tech companies earning Massachusetts-level salaries, the program could be a bargain. If they're competing nationally at lower salary bands, you're paying in-state tuition for out-of-state results.