Computer Science at University of the District of Columbia

UDC's Computer Science program delivers something rare: exceptionally low debt paired with solid earnings in an expensive city. At $29,000 in borrowing—which ranks in the 5th percentile nationally—graduates owe roughly half what they'd take on at a typical CS program, and their debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 means they could realistically pay it off within a year or two of aggressive saving.

The challenge is that $65,524 puts graduates well below the DC median of $92,974 for computer science programs. Among the six DC institutions offering this degree, UDC ranks near the bottom (25th percentile), trailing Georgetown and George Washington by $27,000 to $39,000 annually. That gap matters in a region where tech salaries at federal contractors and private firms typically start much higher. The data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes likely vary widely, but the pattern suggests UDC grads may face steeper climbs into higher-paying positions.

For families prioritizing affordability—particularly the 43% of students here on Pell grants—the low debt load creates real opportunity. A UDC graduate who can land a $65,000 job without crushing debt has more financial flexibility than a peer earning $20,000 more but carrying $50,000 in loans. The question is whether connections to DC's tech sector are strong enough to help graduates close that initial earnings gap over time.