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Computer & Information Sciences · Computer Science Rank #167 of 345

Computer Scienceat Boston College

Graduates earn $86,749/yr in their first year — about 18.0% above the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,462K; scenarios range from $995K to $1,559K depending on AI disruption.

Chestnut Hill, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
78 STRONG
79
Optimistic
71
Pessimistic
Earnings
$86,749
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.7x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,462K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Boston College

While the raw earnings numbers are impressive, they don't capture the full Boston College advantage. Your strong outcomes are a direct result of location and reputation. You’ll be studying at a top-tier university just miles from one of the world's premier tech, biotech, and finance hubs. This proximity creates a powerful recruiting pipeline to major players like Google, Amazon, and Oracle, plus countless high-growth startups in the Seaport and Kendall Square.

BC's liberal arts core also sets you apart; you'll graduate with strong communication and critical thinking skills, not just technical prowess, positioning you for leadership roles faster than graduates from pure tech institutes. To maximize this, your key action is to aggressively pursue internships starting sophomore year. Use the BC career center and alumni network to land a role in Boston's tech ecosystem, turning your regional advantage into a tangible career head start.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$995K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,462K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score78/100
Earnings Multiple5.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,559K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score79/100
Earnings Multiple5.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Boston College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Computer Science graduates typically work

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.

1
Computer and information systems managers
+15.2% 10-yr growth · 55,600 openings/yr
$171,200/yr
High
2
Computer and information research scientists
+19.7% 10-yr growth · 3,200 openings/yr
$140,910/yr
High
3
Database architects
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 4,000 openings/yr
$135,980/yr
Very High
4
Software developers
+15.8% 10-yr growth · 115,200 openings/yr
$133,080/yr
Very High
5
Information security analysts
+28.5% 10-yr growth · 16,000 openings/yr
$124,910/yr
High
6
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Computer Science

How Boston College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Institute of Technology
CA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$173K
1-yr earn
5.9x
ROI
Carnegie Mellon University
PA · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$171K
1-yr earn
8.9x
ROI
Same state (MA)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MA · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$154K
1-yr earn
8.1x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
80
DW Score
$153K
1-yr earn
7.3x
ROI
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$152K
1-yr earn
8.3x
ROI
Also at Boston College

Other top programs at Boston College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Boston 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Computer Science at Boston College

How does Boston College's Computer Science program score?

A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Boston 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.