Computer and Information Sciences at Washington & Jefferson College

Computer science degrees in Pennsylvania show enormous variation, with top programs placing graduates into six-figure salaries while others hover around the state median of $57,000. Based on comparable bachelor's programs across Pennsylvania, Washington & Jefferson's computer science pathway appears to track right at that middle-of-the-road mark, with estimated first-year earnings of $57,261—about $4,000 below the national benchmark for this field. The estimated debt load of $27,000 falls exactly at Pennsylvania's median, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 that suggests graduates could realistically pay down their loans.

The challenge here is the steep gap between what similar Pennsylvania programs typically deliver and what the state's elite institutions achieve. Programs at Penn, Swarthmore, and Lehigh place graduates into starting salaries ranging from $83,000 to $146,000—roughly 1.5 to 2.5 times what peer programs suggest for W&J. For a field where employers often prioritize skills and portfolio over pedigree, that differential matters less than in other majors, but it's still substantial.

The practical calculus: if your child can secure admission to one of Pennsylvania's higher-performing tech programs, the earnings difference could offset higher tuition within a few years. If not, a computer science degree tracking at state medians with moderate debt still positions graduates in a growing field. Ask the school directly about job placement rates, internship pipelines, and which companies recruit on campus—those concrete details matter more than estimated figures when the actual graduate outcomes remain unknown.