Computer and Information Sciences at Virginia Union University

Virginia Union's computer science program delivers earnings well below what families should expect from this degree. That first-year salary of $33,126 ranks in just the 10th percentile among Virginia programs—meaning 90% of computer science graduates in the state start with better pay. Even after four years, when earnings reach $47,827, graduates are still earning less than the state's typical starting salary for this field.

The gap is stark: Virginia's median computer science graduate starts at $68,364, while comparable grads from Virginia Tech or UVA earn over $96,000. This isn't about chasing the absolute top performers—it's about recognizing that at $27,000 in debt, students need earnings that justify borrowing costs. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 isn't catastrophic, it's based on starting pay that would be concerning for almost any bachelor's degree, let alone one in tech.

The 44% earnings growth over four years suggests some graduates do find their footing, but an important caveat applies here: this data comes from a very small sample (under 30 graduates), which means one or two exceptional cases can skew the picture significantly. For a field where job prospects typically depend heavily on technical skills and internship experience, families should carefully investigate what career support and employer connections this program actually provides before committing.