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Computer & Information Sciences · Computer Science Rank #339 of 345

Computer Scienceat California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Graduates earn $37,153/yr in their first year — about 50.0% below the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $444K; scenarios range from $439K to $439K depending on AI disruption.

Arcata, CA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
49 AVERAGE
50
Optimistic
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,153
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$444K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

While the career paths listed represent the high-end potential of a computer science degree, your immediate post-graduation reality at Humboldt will be shaped by its unique location. Arcata is a beautiful but isolated community, far from the major tech hubs of Silicon Valley or Los Angeles. This means the powerful on-campus recruiting pipelines and dense local internship opportunities that drive high starting salaries at other schools simply don't exist here.

Graduates often either take on IT-focused roles within the North Coast's regional economy or face the challenge of relocating to a major metro area without an established network. To maximize your investment, your key task will be to proactively build connections outside the region. Focus on building a national portfolio through remote internships and open-source contributions to prove your skills to employers in more competitive markets.

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
$439K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple13.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$444K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple14.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$439K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple13.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt'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 California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 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
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 California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Other top programs at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Other highest-scoring programs offered at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt, 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 California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Computer Science at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?

A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Computer Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Computer Science careers?

With 72% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $439,031 in decade earnings vs $439,072 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Computer Science from California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.