@austinmshauri
Those are early career salary ‘averages’. You wrote that some people earn more or less dependant on a variety of factors, that’s correct and it is all encompassed within that average.
You say that I can borrow up to 5500 for the first year and aprox 10k from my parents so that’s a budget of 15k, that’s true but there is also institutional grants, merit-aid, and scholarships which I will be working on at the end of my junior year. Further, there are plenty of other avenues for meeting the required cost-of-attendance. I have other sources up my sleeve.
You should know though, Stony Brook is not 30k, is actually 42548 (including fees+ R/B) for out of state students for atleast one year before I get a waiver to be considered a NY resident. I know a person in a similar stats as me with a net-price of 24650. I’m not saying I’ll get the same, it can be more/less but for what Stony Brook is (an excellent CS school), I do plan on applying and seeing the result. I can get my application fee of $65 waived so I WILL be applying. Whoever doesn’t atleast try, is not motivated. Nothing to lose.
If you or anyone else can suggest more schools that I should consider applying to, I’d appreciate it.