Computer Science at Washington University in St Louis

Washington University's Computer Science graduates earn $110,302 in their first year—a remarkable 56% premium over Missouri's median CS salary and 55% above the national average. This places the program in the 95th percentile both nationally and statewide, outperforming even the state's next-best program (UMSL at $72,810) by more than 50%. The debt load of $15,500 is manageable in absolute terms, though it ranks in the 90th percentile nationally simply because many CS programs carry even less debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.14 means graduates typically earn seven times their debt in their first year alone.

The value calculation here is straightforward: WashU's CS program delivers elite outcomes that justify its selective admissions (12% acceptance rate, 1530 average SAT). The only real consideration is whether your child can gain admission and whether the full cost of attendance—which may exceed the median debt figure for higher-income families—remains proportional to these earnings. For students receiving typical financial aid packages that keep total debt near this $15,500 median, this represents one of the strongest earnings-to-debt propositions available in computer science.

The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) is sufficient for confidence in these numbers. Bottom line: if your child is admitted and the net price is reasonable, this program offers access to premium tech industry opportunities that few Missouri institutions can match.