Computer Science at Wheaton College

First-year earnings of $81,470 place Wheaton's Computer Science program well above both national and state medians, landing at the 75th percentile nationally. The program performs similarly to Illinois State University's CS program and significantly better than typical Illinois outcomes of $71,355. While Wheaton can't match the engineering powerhouses like UIUC or Northwestern, it delivers competitive tech-sector outcomes at a fraction of their selectivity—this is an open-admission environment producing near-$82K starting salaries.

The debt picture appears manageable, with an estimated $26,000 borrowed based on peer programs at similar Illinois institutions. That creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32—comfortably below the 1.0 threshold that typically signals repayment strain. Computer Science graduates generally command strong enough salaries to handle this level of borrowing, and first-year earnings here suggest loan payments would consume roughly 12-15% of monthly take-home pay under standard repayment plans.

The real question is whether Wheaton's outcomes justify choosing it over cheaper public alternatives or higher-ranked competitors. The program clearly works for job placement—these are legitimate tech salaries—but families should weigh the $26,000 debt estimate against what University of Illinois Springfield or other state schools might cost, especially for in-state students. For families who value Wheaton's faith-based environment and can manage the estimated debt load, the earnings data suggests the degree opens doors to solid tech careers.