Computer Science at Westfield State University

Westfield State's computer science graduates start at $66,349—roughly $20,000 below the Massachusetts median for CS programs and in the bottom quarter of Bay State schools. That gap matters because Massachusetts is a tech hub where CS graduates typically command premium salaries, with the state median hitting $86,060. While the national CS median is $70,950, comparing to national numbers misses the point when you're competing for jobs in Boston's tech market against graduates from 32 other in-state programs.

The debt picture provides some relief: at $27,000, it's manageable and results in a reasonable 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio. Your child could realistically pay this off within a few years. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year—this might represent an unusually weak or strong cohort rather than the program's typical performance.

For an 81% admission rate school serving a third Pell grant recipients, Westfield delivers accessible tech education at a reasonable price. But if your child can access UMass Amherst or other competitive state schools, those would likely offer stronger career outcomes. Westfield works as a solid backup option or for students who need the smaller campus environment, but the earnings data suggests graduates may need to work harder to break into top-tier tech roles.