Computer Programming at Western Colorado University

A bachelor's in computer programming from Western Colorado University comes with an estimated debt load of $25,000—notably below the national median of $31,050 for this degree. With first-year earnings from comparable programs around $50,242, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 suggests graduates could theoretically pay off loans with half their first year's income, a manageable starting point for a technical field where salaries typically grow with experience.

The challenge here is uncertainty. As the only school in Colorado where data is available for this specific credential, and with both earnings and debt figures drawn from peer institutions nationally, it's difficult to assess how Western Colorado's remote location in Gunnison might affect graduate outcomes. Tech jobs cluster in urban areas like Denver and Boulder, which could mean either a more difficult job search or the need to relocate after graduation—factors that wouldn't show up in these estimated figures.

The relatively low debt estimate is the strongest signal here. If your child can graduate near that $25,000 mark, they'd have breathing room even if their actual starting salary falls short of the national benchmark. The risk lies in not knowing whether Western Colorado's program connects graduates to employers as effectively as programs in tech hubs, where internship and networking opportunities are more abundant.