Computer Science at University of Nevada-Las Vegas

UNLV's Computer Science program produces graduates earning $64,854 in their first year—about $6,000 below the national median for CS degrees. That gap matters less than it might seem, though, because this is Nevada's only comprehensive CS bachelor's program tracked in federal data, and $64,854 goes considerably further in Las Vegas than it would in Silicon Valley or Seattle. The $21,012 median debt sits slightly below the national average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.32—manageable by any standard for a technical degree.

The trajectory looks solid: earnings jump 24% to over $80,000 by year four, suggesting graduates gain traction as they build experience. The program serves a heavily first-generation student body (40% receive Pell grants) at an open-access institution, yet still delivers six-figure earning potential within a few years of graduation. For Nevada families, this represents the primary in-state pathway to a CS degree without paying private school premiums or out-of-state tuition.

The tradeoff is clear: you're not getting Stanford outcomes, but you're also not carrying Stanford debt. For a student planning to work in Nevada's growing tech sector—or who values staying close to home while building marketable skills—the combination of low debt and steady earnings growth makes this a pragmatic choice. Just understand you'll likely start slightly behind peers from more selective programs.