Computer and Information Sciences at University of Southern Mississippi

Computer science programs in Mississippi cluster tightly around $66,000 in first-year earnings, and this program appears positioned right in that range based on outcomes from peer institutions across the state. The estimated $24,105 in debt translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36—meaning graduates would need roughly 4-5 months of gross income to cover their loans. That's a reasonable trade-off for entry into a field with strong demand, even if we can't see this specific program's actual graduate outcomes due to small cohort sizes.

What makes this projection credible is that Mississippi's computer science programs show remarkably consistent earnings regardless of selectivity. Whether students attend the state's flagship or smaller programs like Southern Miss, first-year salaries hover in the mid-$60,000s—well above the national median of $61,322. The real variance comes from debt loads, where Southern Miss's estimated borrowing sits slightly below both state and national averages.

The practical calculation: if your child completes this degree and lands a typical entry-level tech position at the estimated salary, their monthly loan payment would consume about 10% of take-home pay on a standard repayment plan. That's workable, though success depends entirely on actually finishing the degree and securing employment in the field—factors we can't assess from these estimates alone.