Home › Central Washington University › Computer and Information Sciences, General

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $56,049/yr (-10% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (338,800 openings/yr)

ROI 19.1x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #188 of 443 Computer and Information Sciences, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$722K	$704K	$586K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.6x	19.1x	15.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.7x	6.6x	5.5x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	74%	42%
DegreeOutlook Score	80	80	73

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,768

Out-of-state: $107,084 (6.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,860

-60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,137

4.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$73,779

32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $56,049/yr, roughly in line with the $62,617 national median for Computer and Information Sciences, General. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 19.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 69% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $56,049 far exceeding the $20,137 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #188 out of 443 programs, Central Washington University's Computer and Information Sciences, General offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $56,049 to $73,779 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Central Washington University

Central Washington University accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 8,081 students in Ellensburg, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr

Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr

Database architects $135,980/yr

View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Central Washington University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Central Washington University's Computer and Information Sciences, General program score?

A score of 80/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Central Washington University's Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Computer and Information Sciences, General to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Computer and Information Sciences, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 69% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →