Starting salary for computer science major and college decision question.

[Tampitump]

Hey guys,

 

I'm 25 years old and considering transferring to a different college out of state. The school I'm looking to transfer to is very prestigious and is expensive for out of state students. Should I transfet, I will be going to a community college that is partnered with the school first, then transferring to this school as part of an agreement between the two schools. So I will only be paying two years of the big school's rates.

 

Their out of state tuition is $41,000 per year. Assuming I get the full aid I qualify for, I will be left with roughly $17,000 per year unaccounted for which I will have to find some way to pay off. According to the school's financial aid calculator, part of the chunk taken off of that is $7,400 worth of "self-help" aid (i.e. Loans, work study, etc.). This means I'll have to take out more loans on top of those to cover the rest.

 

Altogether, my total loans for the whole shebang is roughly $40k-$45 give or take.

 

On the other hand, I could stay in my home state where I am currently enrolled in community college which is also guaranteed to transfer to any public school in my state. I will get in-state tuition here and have little to no debt afterwards. However, none of the schools in my state are very good. The school I'm wanting to go to in the other state is my dream school and is very prestigious and I really want to go there. I figure this guarantee deal they have with the CC system is my best shot at an elite education.

 

So I guess my question is, how much is the average starting salary for a comp science major with a BS degree? Will it provide adequately so as to comfortably pay off $40-$45k in debt? And do you think $40-$45k is too much student debt? Or is it worth it for the opportunity of attending a dream school?

 

One good thing about this program I'm wanting to get into is that you are co-enrolled between the community college and the university so you take some classes at the elite university for the same price the CC courses cost (just a couple thousand) during your first two years. I'm dying to get into this but am reserved as hell because I've never had debt and don't want to make a HUGE mistake!

 

And tips, advice, info, links, remarks, stories, or concerns will be GREATLY appreciated!

[Unity+]

http://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report-2014/majors-that-pay-you-back

 

It ranks 8th at a starter of $59,800 and at a mid of $102,000.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Unity+

[CharonY]

I would also check unemployment rates for you degree to get an idea how hard it is to score a job after graduation, as it is by no means guaranteed that you will have one immediately after graduation. You will need contingency plans how to deal with debt at that point.