Computer and Information Sciences graduates earn an average annual wage of $183,181, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 184,660 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects. The field combines competitive wages with a large and growing workforce, making it an attractive option for students seeking strong career opportunities.

Key Statistics

100,000
Total Degrees Awarded (2023)
Not reported in dataset
$5,163
Median In-State Public Tuition
Not reported in dataset
$30,242
Median Out-of-State Private Tuition
Not reported in dataset
$183,181
Average Wage
Not reported in dataset
184,660
People in Workforce
Not reported in dataset
N/A
Average Employee Age
Not reported in dataset

Institutions

Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Computer and Information Sciences and the types of students that study this field.

Tuition Costs for Common Institutions

$5,163 Median In-State Public

$30,242 Median Out of State Private

Tuition costs for Computer and Information Sciences majors are, on average, $5,163 for in-state public colleges, and $30,242 for out of state private colleges.

Tuition costs comparison for Computer and Information Sciences programs.

Degrees Awarded Over Time

100,000 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023

This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Computer and Information Sciences from 2015 to 2023.

Historical trend of degrees awarded in Computer and Information Sciences.

Top 5 Schools by Enrollment

Schools with the largest enrollment offering Computer and Information Sciences programs.

Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition

# School State Tuition
1 Woodland Community College CA $1,124
2 Imperial Valley College CA $1,126
3 Yuba College CA $1,128
4 Lassen Community College CA $1,144
5 College of the Redwoods CA $1,147

Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Computer and Information Sciences programs.

Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price

Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Computer and Information Sciences programs.

Graduation Rates

63.63% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)

62.69% Average Graduation Rate

75 Institutions Reporting

52.00% - 73.45% Interquartile Range

Graduation/completion rates for Computer and Information Sciences programs across institutions.

Employment

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Computer and Information Sciences graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.

Yearly Income for Common Jobs

$183,181 Average Wage in Workforce

The average salary for Computer and Information Sciences majors is $183,181.

Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Computer and Information Sciences majors.

Occupations by Share

184,660 2023 Workforce

The number of Computer and Information Sciences graduates in the workforce has been growing.

Various jobs filled by those with a major in Computer and Information Sciences by share of the total number of graduates.

Return on Investment & Value

Financial analysis of Computer and Information Sciences degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.

Financial Value Analysis

ROI data is not available for this degree program.

Financial value comparison for Computer and Information Sciences degree.

Diversity

Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Computer and Information Sciences in the United States.

Workforce Age

N/A Average Age in 2023

This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Computer and Information Sciences.

Age distribution for Computer and Information Sciences degree holders in the workforce.

Gender Distribution

Gender distribution data is not available for this degree program.

Gender distribution of Computer and Information Sciences degree recipients.

Race and Ethnicity Distribution

Race and ethnicity distribution data is not available for this degree program.

Racial and ethnic distribution of Computer and Information Sciences degree recipients.

Degrees Awarded

The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Computer and Information Sciences are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.

Distribution of degree types awarded in Computer and Information Sciences.

Skills

Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Computer and Information Sciences field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Required Skills

Computer and Information Sciences majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.

Rating of how necessary various skills are for Computer and Information Sciences majors.

Skills Bar Chart

This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.

Skill importance ratings for Computer and Information Sciences majors.

About

Computer and Information Sciences

In 2023, 100,000 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Computer and Information Sciences.

CIP Code

00.0101 - Computer and Information Sciences

Insights and Analysis

High Earning Potential: Computer and Information Sciences graduates earn an average annual wage of $183,181, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
    • Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
    • Data years: 2015-2024
    • Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
    • Employment and wage data by occupation
    • Latest data: May 2024
    • Source: bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
    • Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
    • Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
    • Source: onetcenter.org
  • IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
    • Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
    • Data years: 2015-2024
    • Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
  • Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
    • Demographic and workforce data
    • Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
    • Source: census.gov/acs

Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

Methodology

Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.

All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.