Computer and Information Sciences at University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi's Computer Science program delivers solid first-year earnings of $66,082—outpacing the national median by nearly $5,000 and landing in the 60th percentile among Mississippi programs. The $21,250 debt load is notably lower than both national and state medians, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 that should be manageable on a tech salary. Graduates essentially break even with Strayer University-Mississippi, the state's top earner, while carrying significantly less debt burden.

The real advantage here is the combination of reasonable debt and competitive earnings at an accessible institution with a 98% admission rate. While the debt percentile (76th nationally) might look concerning at first glance, remember that lower debt is better—this program actually performs better than three-quarters of comparable programs nationwide on this measure. For students who can get in-state tuition rates, the math becomes even more favorable.

The main limitation is positioning: this isn't a premium program that will command top-tier starting salaries in competitive tech hubs. But for a student planning to work in Mississippi or the broader Southeast region, Ole Miss offers a straightforward path into tech work without crushing debt. The moderate sample size suggests consistent outcomes without major red flags.