Computer Science at Virginia Military Institute

VMI's computer science graduates start at $58,225—nearly $14,000 below Virginia's median for the program and trailing the state's top performers by $20,000 to $26,000. This puts VMI in the bottom quarter of Virginia CS programs, behind not just elite William & Mary but also mid-tier state schools like Longwood and Christopher Newport. Nationally, the picture is similar: 22nd percentile earnings mean roughly three-quarters of CS programs produce higher-earning graduates.

The $26,000 debt load is manageable in absolute terms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 that many families could handle. But the real question is opportunity cost. Virginia offers 20 CS programs, and many deliver significantly better outcomes. George Mason and William & Mary graduates earn nearly 50% more in their first year, which compounds dramatically over a career in a field known for rapid salary growth.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift substantially year to year, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant serious comparison shopping. For a Virginia resident paying in-state tuition at VMI's military-focused environment, you're accepting below-average CS outcomes in a state with strong alternatives. Unless the military structure and leadership training are specifically what your child wants, other Virginia public universities offer better returns in this field.