Home Schools DePaul University Computer Programming
Computer & Information Sciences · Computer Programming Rank #15 of 31

Computer Programmingat DePaul University

Graduates earn $72,234/yr in their first year — about 22.0% above the national Computer Programming average. Base-case 10-year earnings $842K; scenarios range from $657K to $912K depending on AI disruption.

Chicago, IL Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
69 SOLID
71
Optimistic
61
Pessimistic
Earnings
$72,234
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$842K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
64% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at DePaul University

Graduates earn $72,234/yr, edging above the $59,149 national average for Computer Programming — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 4.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Computer Programming's typical career paths, with 78% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 28% gap from the optimistic case.

At $24,500 in median debt against $72,234 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #15 of 31 Computer Programming programs, DePaul University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $72,234 to $96,002 over five years — a 33% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

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
$657K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$842K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple4.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$912K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple5.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Computer Programming 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
Software developers
+15.8% 10-yr growth · 115,200 openings/yr
$133,080/yr
Very High
2
Software quality assurance analysts and testers
+10.0% 10-yr growth · 14,000 openings/yr
$102,610/yr
Very High
3
Computer programmers
-6.0% 10-yr growth · 5,500 openings/yr
$98,670/yr
Very High
4
Web and digital interface designers
+7.0% 10-yr growth · 9,100 openings/yr
$98,090/yr
High
5
Computer science teachers, postsecondary
+5.3% 10-yr growth · 3,500 openings/yr
$96,690/yr
High
6
Web developers
+7.5% 10-yr growth · 5,400 openings/yr
$90,930/yr
Very 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 Programming

How DePaul University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
DigiPen Institute of Technology
WA · Private for-profit
75
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
7.1x
ROI
Rochester Institute of Technology
NY · Private nonprofit
59
DW Score
$84K
1-yr earn
2.7x
ROI
Top score
University of Michigan-Dearborn
MI · Public
82
DW Score
$81K
1-yr earn
18.6x
ROI
Elon University
NC · Private nonprofit
59
DW Score
$80K
1-yr earn
3.5x
ROI
University of Phoenix-Arizona
AZ · Private for-profit
79
DW Score
$74K
1-yr earn
19.3x
ROI
Also at DePaul University

Other top programs at DePaul University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at DePaul University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Computer Programming offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Computer Programming trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Computer Programming at DePaul University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Computer Programming at DePaul University?

A score of 69/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Computer Programming field.

Will AI replace Computer Programming careers?

With 78% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $657,173 in decade earnings vs $912,485 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.