Information Science/Studies: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 162 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$127,944 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.
6.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
+50%Modeled 10-year ROI
$83,331Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$83,331Median reported earnings · year 4
$85,334Average reported earnings · year 5
$26,000Median federal debt
79thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
162Reporting programs
149With 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
- $91,498
- Federal debt
- $14,616
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,006
- Federal debt
- $24,788
- Reporting programs
- 26
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $83,331
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Reporting programs
- 162
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $141,703
- Federal debt
- $24,773
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $99,838
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 72
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $209,391
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,761
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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$70,639National median$83,33175th percentile$91,671
149 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Northwestern University$163,7402Boston College$131,0903University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$130,7984Stevenson University$113,3675James Madison University$113,3456Utah Valley University$112,1287University of Maryland-College Park$109,0928Albright College$108,8469Clemson University$105,64610George Washington University$105,145Observed 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 Occupations, All OtherSOC 15-1299 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Research ScientistsSOC 15-1221 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 · 1 crosswalk linksDatabase ArchitectsSOC 15-1243 · 1 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 1 crosswalk linksWeb and Digital Interface DesignersSOC 15-1255 · 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 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $163,740 | $12,000 | +300% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Boston CollegeBachelor's Degree | Chestnut Hill, MA | $131,090 | $17,500 | +148% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $130,798 | $20,875 | +269% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Stevenson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Owings Mills, MD | $113,367 | Not available | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | James Madison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $113,345 | $21,025 | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $112,128 | $17,599 | +227% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $109,092 | $20,180 | +164% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | Albright CollegeBachelor's Degree | Reading, PA | $108,846 | $36,196 | +145% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Clemson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clemson, SC | $105,646 | $25,964 | +125% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $105,145 | Not available | +84% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $105,127 | $24,041 | +146% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $104,842 | $26,694 | +79% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | New Jersey Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $103,918 | $25,000 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 14 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $102,765 | $25,000 | +118% | Strong payoff |
| 15 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBachelor's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $100,940 | $13,294 | +147% | Strong payoff |
| 16 | University of Maryland Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Adelphi, MD | $100,208 | $20,806 | +106% | Strong payoff |
| 17 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $100,166 | Not available | +108% | Strong payoff |
| 18 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $98,548 | $29,125 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $98,270 | $26,417 | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $95,435 | $20,633 | +105% | Strong payoff |
| 21 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $94,412 | $24,950 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 22 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $93,694 | $23,000 | +72% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | College of CharlestonBachelor's Degree | Charleston, SC | $93,285 | $22,591 | +89% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | Quinnipiac UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hamden, CT | $93,037 | Not available | +40% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New KensingtonBachelor's Degree | New Kensington, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +84% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-BarreBachelor's Degree | Dallas, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonBachelor's Degree | Dunmore, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +85% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh ValleyBachelor's Degree | Center Valley, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +85% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BeaverBachelor's Degree | Monaca, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 30 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksBachelor's Degree | Reading, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgBachelor's Degree | Middletown, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywineBachelor's Degree | Media, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +73% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBoisBachelor's Degree | DuBois, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 34 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HazletonBachelor's Degree | Hazleton, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +86% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater AlleghenyBachelor's Degree | McKeesport, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +93% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont AltoBachelor's Degree | Mont Alto, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +81% | Positive payoff |
| 38 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonBachelor's Degree | Abington, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +85% | Positive payoff |
| 39 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State SchuylkillBachelor's Degree | Schuylkill Haven, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 40 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkBachelor's Degree | York, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +82% | Positive payoff |
| 41 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $91,671 | $26,000 | +81% | Positive payoff |
| 42 | Stony Brook UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stony Brook, NY | $89,875 | $19,750 | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | University of Massachusetts-LowellBachelor's Degree | Lowell, MA | $89,715 | $27,820 | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 44 | East Texas A&M UniversityBachelor's Degree | Commerce, TX | $89,459 | Not available | +96% | Positive payoff |
| 45 | Christopher Newport UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newport News, VA | $88,842 | $26,000 | +61% | Positive payoff |
| 46 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $88,289 | $14,413 | +81% | Positive payoff |
| 47 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $87,757 | $25,000 | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 48 | Rutgers University-NewarkBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $87,757 | $25,000 | +65% | Positive payoff |
| 49 | Excelsior UniversityBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | $87,458 | $16,667 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 50 | Strayer University-District of ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $87,413 | $53,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 51 | Strayer University-VirginiaBachelor's Degree | Arlington, VA | $87,413 | $53,250 | +64% | Positive payoff |
| 52 | Strayer University-MarylandBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $87,413 | $53,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 53 | Strayer University-TennesseeBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $87,413 | $53,250 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 54 | Strayer University-PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $87,413 | $53,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 55 | Strayer University-FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $87,413 | $53,250 | +74% | Positive payoff |
| 56 | Strayer University-DelawareBachelor's Degree | Wilmington, DE | $87,413 | $53,250 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 57 | Strayer University-AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Birmingham, AL | $87,413 | $53,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 58 | Strayer University-North CarolinaBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $87,413 | $53,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 59 | Strayer University-New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Piscataway, NJ | $87,413 | $53,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 60 | Strayer University-West VirginiaBachelor's Degree | Scott Depot, WV | $87,413 | $53,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 61 | Strayer University-ArkansasBachelor's Degree | Little Rock, AR | $87,413 | $53,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 62 | Strayer University-GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Chamblee, GA | $87,413 | $53,250 | +67% | Positive payoff |
| 63 | Strayer University-MississippiBachelor's Degree | Jackson, MS | $87,413 | $53,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 64 | Strayer University-South CarolinaBachelor's Degree | Greenville, SC | $87,413 | $53,250 | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 65 | Strayer University-TexasBachelor's Degree | Farmers Branch, TX | $87,413 | $53,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 66 | Strayer University-Global RegionBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $87,413 | $53,250 | +69% | Positive payoff |
| 67 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $87,219 | $24,364 | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 68 | Suffolk UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $86,406 | $27,000 | +39% | Positive payoff |
| 69 | Florida Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Melbourne, FL | $85,906 | $54,375 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 70 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $85,870 | $10,673 | +113% | Strong payoff |
| 71 | Xavier UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $85,164 | $27,000 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 72 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $84,364 | $25,750 | +64% | Positive payoff |
| 73 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $84,273 | $25,564 | +42% | Positive payoff |
| 74 | Morgan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $83,331 | $26,750 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 75 | Robert Morris UniversityBachelor's Degree | Moon Township, PA | $82,989 | $27,000 | +40% | Positive payoff |
| 76 | University of Nebraska at OmahaBachelor's Degree | Omaha, NE | $82,883 | $21,147 | +62% | Positive payoff |
| 77 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $82,551 | $25,916 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 78 | Ramapo College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Mahwah, NJ | $82,529 | $26,000 | +49% | Positive payoff |
| 79 | Missouri University of Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rolla, MO | $81,840 | $25,750 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 80 | Metropolitan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $81,539 | $25,000 | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 81 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $81,420 | $29,000 | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 82 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $81,289 | $25,000 | +42% | Positive payoff |
| 83 | University of Illinois ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $81,180 | $14,538 | +62% | Positive payoff |
| 84 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownBachelor's Degree | Johnstown, PA | $81,117 | $27,000 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 85 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $81,117 | $27,000 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 86 | Salisbury UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salisbury, MD | $81,116 | $23,250 | +44% | Positive payoff |
| 87 | Georgia Southern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Statesboro, GA | $80,409 | $29,000 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 88 | Stockton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Galloway, NJ | $79,310 | $19,578 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 89 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's Degree | Arlington, TX | $78,953 | $20,205 | +44% | Positive payoff |
| 90 | SUNY Old WestburyBachelor's Degree | Old Westbury, NY | $78,347 | Not available | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 91 | University of Arkansas GranthamBachelor's Degree | LIttle Rock, AR | $78,143 | Not available | +55% | Positive payoff |
| 92 | Coastal Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Conway, SC | $77,999 | $20,336 | +40% | Positive payoff |
| 93 | University of North GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Dahlonega, GA | $77,821 | $20,815 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 94 | University of Akron Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Akron, OH | $77,590 | $17,589 | +38% | Positive payoff |
| 95 | SUNY at FredoniaBachelor's Degree | Fredonia, NY | $77,409 | Not available | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 96 | California State University, FullertonBachelor's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $76,482 | $15,337 | +53% | Positive payoff |
| 97 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusBachelor's Degree | Norman, OK | $76,201 | Not available | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 98 | State University of New York at OswegoBachelor's Degree | Oswego, NY | $74,812 | $27,000 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 99 | CUNY New York City College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $74,456 | $12,289 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 100 | Minnesota State University MoorheadBachelor's Degree | Moorhead, MN | $74,016 | $13,773 | +15% | Positive 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.