Computer Science
Computer Science graduates earn an average annual wage of $120,657, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 87,300 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Computer Science and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$N/A Median In-State Public
$N/A Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Computer Science majors are, on average, $N/A for in-state public colleges, and $N/A for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Computer Science programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
79,857 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Computer Science from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Computer Science.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insufficient Data | |||
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Computer Science programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insufficient Data | |||
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Computer Science programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insufficient Data | |||
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Computer Science programs.
Graduation Rates
58.95% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
57.89% Average Graduation Rate
895 Institutions Reporting
45.47% - 71.00% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Computer Science programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Computer Science graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$120,657 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Computer Science majors is $120,657.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Computer Science majors.
Occupations by Share
87,300 2023 Workforce
The number of Computer Science graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Computer Science by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Computer Science 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 Science degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Computer Science 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 Science.
Age distribution for Computer Science degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
79,857 Total Degrees Awarded
60,267 Male (75.47%)
19,590 Female (24.53%)
Gender distribution of Computer Science degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
22,558 White (28.25%)
15,167 Asian (18.99%)
7,346 Hispanic or Latino (9.20%)
3,302 Black or African American (4.13%)
2,567 Two or More Races (3.21%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of Computer Science degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Computer Science are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Computer Science.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Computer Science field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Computer Science majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Computer Science 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 Science majors.
About
Computer Science
In 2023, 79,857 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Computer Science.
CIP Code
11.0701 - Computer Science
Insights and Analysis
High Earning Potential: Computer Science graduates earn an average annual wage of $120,657, 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.