Computer and Information Sciences, General: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 489 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$145,136 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
6.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
+57%Modeled 10-year ROI
$84,860Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$84,860Median reported earnings · year 4
$92,538Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,000Median federal debt
82thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
489Reporting programs
470With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,790
- Federal debt
- $10,938
- Reporting programs
- 53
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,238
- Federal debt
- $14,440
- Reporting programs
- 142
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,860
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 489
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $125,902
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 78
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $158,849
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $105,731
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,038
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$75,310National median$84,86075th percentile$100,148
470 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Pennsylvania$241,3802University of California, Los Angeles$216,7223Johns Hopkins University$196,4674Yale University$188,1575Carnegie Mellon University$187,4376Rice University$182,4437Wellesley College$177,2138University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$172,9049Northeastern University Oakland$163,70810Northeastern University$163,708Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Computer and Information Research ScientistsSOC 15-1221 · 5 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 3 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 3 crosswalk linksSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersSOC 15-1253 · 3 crosswalk linksWeb and Digital Interface DesignersSOC 15-1255 · 3 crosswalk linksComputer Network ArchitectsSOC 15-1241 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Systems AnalystsSOC 15-1211 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 · 2 crosswalk linksData ScientistsSOC 15-2051 · 2 crosswalk linksDatabase ArchitectsSOC 15-1243 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Occupations, All OtherSOC 15-1299 · 1 crosswalk linksDatabase AdministratorsSOC 15-1242 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $241,380 | $15,000 | +566% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $216,722 | $15,248 | +646% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $196,467 | $12,750 | +493% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Yale UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Haven, CT | $188,157 | $12,750 | +420% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $187,437 | Not available | +363% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Rice UniversityBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $182,443 | $12,381 | +489% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | Wellesley CollegeBachelor's Degree | Wellesley, MA | $177,213 | $13,350 | +369% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $172,904 | $20,000 | +450% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Northeastern University OaklandBachelor's Degree | Oakland, CA | $163,708 | $23,001 | +323% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $163,708 | $23,001 | +291% | Strong payoff |
| 11 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $163,708 | $23,001 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 12 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $155,168 | $20,500 | +325% | Strong payoff |
| 13 | Swarthmore CollegeBachelor's Degree | Swarthmore, PA | $150,942 | Not available | +289% | Strong payoff |
| 14 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $150,628 | $21,125 | +362% | Strong payoff |
| 15 | Stony Brook UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stony Brook, NY | $147,064 | $16,868 | +300% | Strong payoff |
| 16 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $146,946 | $19,399 | +329% | Strong payoff |
| 17 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $144,501 | Not available | +310% | Strong payoff |
| 18 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $144,389 | $15,500 | +237% | Strong payoff |
| 19 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $144,103 | $20,500 | +254% | Strong payoff |
| 20 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $142,970 | $19,000 | +241% | Strong payoff |
| 21 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $142,495 | $19,734 | +197% | Strong payoff |
| 22 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $142,041 | $17,783 | +264% | Strong payoff |
| 23 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $138,673 | $14,282 | +292% | Strong payoff |
| 24 | Villanova UniversityBachelor's Degree | Villanova, PA | $130,585 | $26,225 | +141% | Strong payoff |
| 25 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $129,401 | $20,395 | +218% | Strong payoff |
| 26 | Oberlin CollegeBachelor's Degree | Oberlin, OH | $129,395 | $26,500 | +152% | Strong payoff |
| 27 | Pacific Lutheran UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $128,703 | $23,534 | +224% | Strong payoff |
| 28 | Loyola Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $127,011 | $26,000 | +120% | Strong payoff |
| 29 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $126,268 | $16,000 | +294% | Strong payoff |
| 30 | University of Florida-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $126,268 | $16,000 | +308% | Strong payoff |
| 31 | Rutgers University-CamdenBachelor's Degree | Camden, NJ | $125,303 | $21,500 | +215% | Strong payoff |
| 32 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $125,303 | $21,500 | +189% | Strong payoff |
| 33 | Rutgers University-NewarkBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $125,303 | $21,500 | +210% | Strong payoff |
| 34 | Vassar CollegeBachelor's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $124,469 | $17,037 | +136% | Strong payoff |
| 35 | Bucknell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lewisburg, PA | $122,651 | Not available | +126% | Strong payoff |
| 36 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $120,773 | $27,000 | +126% | Strong payoff |
| 37 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ShenangoBachelor's Degree | Sharon, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +200% | Strong payoff |
| 38 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh ValleyBachelor's Degree | Center Valley, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +199% | Strong payoff |
| 39 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaBachelor's Degree | Altoona, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +182% | Strong payoff |
| 40 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksBachelor's Degree | Reading, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +173% | Strong payoff |
| 41 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgBachelor's Degree | Middletown, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +177% | Strong payoff |
| 42 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywineBachelor's Degree | Media, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +180% | Strong payoff |
| 43 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +143% | Strong payoff |
| 44 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater AlleghenyBachelor's Degree | McKeesport, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +213% | Strong payoff |
| 45 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonBachelor's Degree | Abington, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +200% | Strong payoff |
| 46 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State SchuylkillBachelor's Degree | Schuylkill Haven, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +193% | Strong payoff |
| 47 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkBachelor's Degree | York, PA | $120,729 | $26,000 | +196% | Strong payoff |
| 48 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $119,655 | $22,500 | +199% | Strong payoff |
| 49 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $118,833 | $23,000 | +196% | Strong payoff |
| 50 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $118,521 | $19,050 | +169% | Strong payoff |
| 51 | Western Connecticut State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Danbury, CT | $118,324 | $24,125 | +193% | Strong payoff |
| 52 | Rollins CollegeBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $118,277 | $27,000 | +130% | Strong payoff |
| 53 | Kalamazoo CollegeBachelor's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $117,826 | Not available | +184% | Strong payoff |
| 54 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $117,412 | $19,591 | +158% | Strong payoff |
| 55 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $117,412 | $19,591 | +224% | Strong payoff |
| 56 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $117,412 | $19,591 | +208% | Strong payoff |
| 57 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $117,412 | $19,591 | +193% | Strong payoff |
| 58 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $117,412 | $19,591 | +195% | Strong payoff |
| 59 | Lehigh UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $116,999 | $24,019 | +120% | Strong payoff |
| 60 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $116,905 | $24,022 | +178% | Strong payoff |
| 61 | Weber State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ogden, UT | $116,453 | $12,250 | +223% | Strong payoff |
| 62 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $116,221 | $20,572 | +184% | Strong payoff |
| 63 | The University of AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $115,980 | $22,000 | +163% | Strong payoff |
| 64 | Ramapo College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Mahwah, NJ | $115,174 | $25,000 | +178% | Strong payoff |
| 65 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Troy, NY | $115,100 | $27,000 | +116% | Strong payoff |
| 66 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $114,798 | $16,277 | +195% | Strong payoff |
| 67 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $114,798 | $16,277 | +204% | Strong payoff |
| 68 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $114,798 | $16,277 | +216% | Strong payoff |
| 69 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $114,076 | $23,250 | +161% | Strong payoff |
| 70 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $113,338 | $14,250 | +182% | Strong payoff |
| 71 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $113,062 | $23,197 | +166% | Strong payoff |
| 72 | Morehouse CollegeBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $112,934 | Not available | +102% | Strong payoff |
| 73 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $112,754 | $21,000 | +198% | Strong payoff |
| 74 | University of RichmondBachelor's Degree | University of Richmond, VA | $112,621 | $23,381 | +122% | Strong payoff |
| 75 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $112,064 | $22,919 | +177% | Strong payoff |
| 76 | Bentley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waltham, MA | $111,853 | $26,000 | +102% | Strong payoff |
| 77 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $111,520 | $25,334 | +165% | Strong payoff |
| 78 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $110,754 | $23,250 | +161% | Strong payoff |
| 79 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $110,414 | $17,996 | +173% | Strong payoff |
| 80 | Western Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellingham, WA | $110,138 | $19,333 | +146% | Strong payoff |
| 81 | Macalester CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $109,457 | $20,829 | +109% | Strong payoff |
| 82 | Western Governors UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $108,836 | $23,167 | +177% | Strong payoff |
| 83 | Missouri University of Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rolla, MO | $107,195 | $23,619 | +154% | Strong payoff |
| 84 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $107,194 | $25,871 | +141% | Strong payoff |
| 85 | University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireBachelor's Degree | Eau Claire, WI | $106,724 | $22,614 | +151% | Strong payoff |
| 86 | Carthage CollegeBachelor's Degree | Kenosha, WI | $106,611 | Not available | +115% | Strong payoff |
| 87 | The University of Texas at San AntonioBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $106,358 | $22,625 | +175% | Strong payoff |
| 88 | Truman State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kirksville, MO | $106,203 | $26,000 | +165% | Strong payoff |
| 89 | George Fox UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newberg, OR | $106,106 | Not available | +99% | Positive payoff |
| 90 | The College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Ewing, NJ | $105,377 | $24,125 | +108% | Strong payoff |
| 91 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $105,078 | $27,000 | +118% | Strong payoff |
| 92 | University of New Hampshire at ManchesterBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $105,078 | $27,000 | +173% | Strong payoff |
| 93 | University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies OnlineBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $105,078 | $27,000 | +169% | Strong payoff |
| 94 | James Madison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $104,806 | $21,470 | +119% | Strong payoff |
| 95 | Skidmore CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $104,708 | Not available | +93% | Positive payoff |
| 96 | University of Alabama at BirminghamBachelor's Degree | Birmingham, AL | $104,654 | $24,000 | +134% | Strong payoff |
| 97 | Wayne State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $104,630 | $20,672 | +158% | Strong payoff |
| 98 | Creighton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Omaha, NE | $104,314 | Not available | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 99 | East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | East Stroudsburg, PA | $104,026 | $28,500 | +134% | Strong payoff |
| 100 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $104,024 | $24,500 | +143% | Strong payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.