How much do Computer Science bachelor's degree graduates from Northwestern University earn?

The reported median is $155,106 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $14,600.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 45% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Computer Science bachelor's degree at Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.

$48,097 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 9.4% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $230,265 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +271% · Strong payoff
Available price data: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$921,060

$20,000Annual price+$841,060

$29,000Current college-wide context+$805,060

$40,000Annual price+$761,060

$60,000Annual price+$681,060

$80,000Annual price+$601,060

$100,000Annual price+$521,060

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+56%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$99,981 → $156,137

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

17Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

46Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

47Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

230Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

44Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

131Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

102Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

51Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$155,106$120,298 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$29,167

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$14,600

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$155,106

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$155/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$29,167Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$91,250Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE7.7%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE95.1%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$99,981Year 1

$155,106Year 4

$156,137Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

1.2% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$12,926

Estimated loan payment$155

47borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$155,106 vs. $107,009

$48,097 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Computer and Information Systems Managers$171,730 median wageIL estimate · 31,680 jobs · 11-3021$133,220–$212,040 middle 50% of IL wages+15.8% projected U.S. growth · 53,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDatabase Architects$142,500 median wageIL estimate · 1,590 jobs · 15-1243$122,340–$167,870 middle 50% of IL wages+9.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer and Information Research Scientists$136,540 median wageIL estimate · 630 jobs · 15-1221$104,340–$170,390 middle 50% of IL wages+21.8% projected U.S. growth · 2,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSoftware Developers$132,110 median wageIL estimate · 56,310 jobs · 15-1252$101,540–$166,420 middle 50% of IL wages+10.2% projected U.S. growth · 95,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeInformation Security Analysts$124,180 median wageIL estimate · 5,260 jobs · 15-1212$98,910–$154,890 middle 50% of IL wages+21.0% projected U.S. growth · 14,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeData Scientists$106,560 median wageIL estimate · 10,520 jobs · 15-2051$84,610–$137,290 middle 50% of IL wages+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$104,910 median wageIL estimate · 6,530 jobs · 15-1253$83,020–$130,290 middle 50% of IL wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 10,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Occupations, All Other$99,360 median wageIL estimate · 11,160 jobs · 15-1299$65,040–$133,070 middle 50% of IL wages+5.1% projected U.S. growth · 27,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$98,750 median wageIL estimate · 1,540 jobs · 25-1021$63,890–$132,960 middle 50% of IL wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWeb and Digital Interface Designers$85,710 median wageIL estimate · 2,050 jobs · 15-1255$67,580–$129,810 middle 50% of IL wages+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWeb Developers$84,820 median wageIL estimate · 4,310 jobs · 15-1254$71,990–$117,100 middle 50% of IL wages+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 5,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Programmers$72,540 median wageIL estimate · 1,280 jobs · 15-1251$50,640–$110,980 middle 50% of IL wages-7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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