Computer Scienceat Amherst College
Graduates earn $100,596/yr in their first year — about 36.0% above the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,856K; scenarios range from $1,211K to $1,993K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Amherst College
While the raw earnings are impressive, they don't capture the full Amherst story. You're not just buying a CS degree; you're gaining access to an elite network. The college's "brand name" prestige attracts aggressive recruiting from top-tier employers in tech, finance, and consulting—think Google and Goldman Sachs—who value the critical thinking skills honed in a liberal arts environment. Your classes will be small and theory-heavy, focusing more on foundational principles than specific programming languages. This prepares you for leadership and research roles, but means you'll need to build practical, project-based skills on your own. To maximize this opportunity, start networking with the powerful alumni base from day one and use your summers for internships that build a portfolio of real-world coding accomplishments to complement your theoretical classroom knowledge.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Amherst College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Computer Science
How Amherst College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Amherst College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Amherst College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Computer Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Computer Science at Amherst College
How does Amherst College's Computer Science program score?
A score of 79/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Amherst College's Computer Science graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 72% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Computer Science at Amherst College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $269,120, but the average net cost is $72,984 — a 73% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.