Location: Morgantown, WV•In-State Tuition: $9,648•Out-of-State Tuition: $27,360•Admission Rate: 86%•Avg SAT: 1129
Median Earnings (1yr)
$65,223
60th percentile
Est. Median Debt
$24,500
Est. from WV median (3 programs)
Sample: 19 graduates Limited data

Analysis

With first-year earnings of $65,223 against an estimated debt load of $24,500, West Virginia University's computer science program appears to deliver solid economic value—though the debt figure comes from averaging three WV programs rather than actual graduate data from this specific school. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 suggests graduates would dedicate roughly a third of their first year's salary to their student loans, a manageable burden that most families would consider reasonable for a technical degree.

What makes this program particularly interesting is its position among West Virginia options. WVU's graduates earn exactly at the state median for computer science programs, while similar programs in the state suggest debt levels around $25,000—putting WVU squarely in the middle of the pack. The program also outperforms the national median by nearly $4,000, meaning West Virginia tech graduates generally compete well against peers nationwide, even if they're not at the top of national rankings.

The main uncertainty here is whether WVU's actual debt levels align with the state average used for this estimate. Computer science programs can vary significantly in their financial aid packages, and with an 86% admission rate drawing students who may have different financial profiles, actual borrowing could differ. Still, the strong starting salary provides a cushion—even if debt ran 20% higher than estimated, graduates would still be in decent financial shape compared to most bachelor's programs.

Where West Virginia University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences bachelors's programs nationally

West Virginia University (estimated ±10%)Other computer and information sciences programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How West Virginia University graduates compare to all programs nationally

West Virginia University earns $65k — 60th percentile among computer and information sciences bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in West Virginia

Computer and Information Sciences bachelors's programs at peer institutions in West Virginia (12 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown$9,648$65,223—$24,500*—
American Public University SystemCharles Town$8,400$68,210$66,564$21,544*0.32
Strayer University-West VirginiaScott Depot$13,920$67,315$77,481$50,737*0.75
West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyBeckley$8,064$65,223——*—
Fairmont State UniversityFairmont$8,454$64,975—$24,500*0.38
Shepherd UniversityShepherdstown$8,642$57,265$68,435$21,830*0.38
National Median—$61,322—$25,000*0.41
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Network Architects

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At West Virginia University, approximately 20% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 19 graduates with reported earnings and 13 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.