Computer and Information Sciences at Vassar College

Vassar College isn't the first name that comes to mind for computer science, but the numbers tell a compelling story. Graduates earn $80,037 in their first year—nearly $30,000 above the national median for this degree and significantly ahead of the $62,592 NY state median. That places Vassar in the 80th percentile among New York's 68 CS programs, trailing only elite tech schools like Cornell and Barnard. More impressively, earnings jump 39% to $110,844 by year four, suggesting strong career trajectory and likely access to high-paying tech roles rather than a quick ceiling.

The financial picture is exceptional: $17,037 in median debt represents just 21% of first-year earnings, far below both the national ($25,000) and state ($24,720) medians. This is the rare program delivering both top-quintile earnings and bottom-decile debt. For a selective liberal arts college (18% acceptance rate), Vassar clearly maintains strong tech industry connections despite not having the engineering school brand of an RPI or the NYC location advantage of NYU.

The moderate sample size means some caution is warranted, but the pattern is clear—this program punches well above its weight in a crowded New York market. For families seeking a liberal arts education that doesn't sacrifice tech career outcomes, Vassar delivers both the academic experience and the financial return.