Computer and Information Sciences at University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg

Starting at $49,300, Pitt-Greensburg's computer science graduates earn roughly $12,000 below the Pennsylvania median and nearly $20,000 below the national benchmark—a significant gap in a field known for strong entry salaries. While the program lands at the 40th percentile within Pennsylvania (middle of the pack statewide), it sits at just the 20th percentile nationally. The $27,000 debt load matches the state median and is reasonable in absolute terms, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 is higher than you'd want for a tech degree, where ratios below 0.40 are common at stronger programs.

The context matters here: Pitt-Greensburg's near-open admission (98% acceptance rate) and lower SAT averages suggest this program serves a different student population than Pennsylvania's powerhouse tech schools, where graduates often start above $80,000. For students who need an accessible entry point into computing, this could work—especially for those planning to stay in the Pittsburgh region and build experience. However, the earnings gap is substantial enough that it could take years to close, and in tech, where your first job often sets your trajectory, starting behind can compound.

If your child can gain admission to Penn State's main campus or other mid-tier Pennsylvania programs (where median earnings exceed $57,000), the difference in starting salary would likely justify any additional effort. At Greensburg, they're getting a computing degree at an attainable school, but they're trading significant earning potential for that accessibility.