Computer Science at Villanova University

Computer science programs in Pennsylvania span an enormous range, from Carnegie Mellon's $171,000 first-year salaries down to less selective programs earning under $60,000. Based on comparable Pennsylvania programs, Villanova appears to land squarely in the middle of this pack, with estimated first-year earnings around $67,000—well below what nearby Lehigh and Drexel graduates typically command, yet still reasonable for a computer science degree. The estimated $27,000 debt burden aligns with state norms and keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.40.

What makes this picture particularly uncertain is Villanova's selectivity profile. With a 25% admission rate and 1466 average SAT—metrics comparable to Lehigh—you'd expect stronger placement outcomes than the state median suggests. The tiny graduate cohort (why else would the DOE suppress the data?) means these estimates could substantially underrepresent actual performance. Computer science programs at selective private universities often benefit from robust alumni networks and corporate recruiting relationships that don't show up in state-level averages.

The safer assumption is that Villanova's outcomes fall somewhere between the $67,000 state median and Lehigh's $88,500, making the degree a workable investment at estimated debt levels. But given the uncertainty, understanding Villanova's specific tech employer relationships and where recent graduates actually landed would be critical before committing.