Computer Science at Widener University

Widener's computer science graduates earn $51,536 one year out—about $16,000 less than Pennsylvania's median and nearly $20,000 below the national average for CS programs. Among the state's 38 computer science programs, this lands in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of Pennsylvania CS programs produce stronger first-year earnings. The debt load of $27,000 roughly matches state norms, but when your earnings lag significantly, even average debt becomes problematic with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift substantially year to year, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant attention. Computer science typically offers one of the strongest return-on-investment paths in higher education, yet Widener's outcomes fall well short of that promise. You're paying similar debt to attend programs like Penn State or Temple, but their graduates earn $25,000-$35,000 more in their first year. Even accounting for Widener's accessible admissions (84% acceptance rate), the earnings gap is substantial for a field where technical skills should translate relatively directly to market wages.

If your child is considering Widener specifically for its campus environment or support services, understand you're accepting a significant earnings tradeoff in a field that usually commands premium pay. Otherwise, Pennsylvania offers multiple CS programs with dramatically better outcomes at comparable or lower debt levels.