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Computer & Information Sciences · Information Sciences Rank #192 of 443

Information Sciencesat Illinois State University

Graduates earn $65,127/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Information Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $784K; scenarios range from $632K to $809K depending on AI disruption.

Normal, IL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
79 STRONG
80
Optimistic
73
Pessimistic
Earnings
$65,127
1-year post-graduation
ROI
12.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$784K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Illinois State University

At $65,127/yr, Information Sciences graduates from Illinois State University land near the $62,617 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 12.2x 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 22% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $20,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #192 out of 443 programs, Illinois State University's Information Sciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $65,127 to $84,395 shows 30% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary 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
$632K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple9.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$784K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score79/100
Earnings Multiple12.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$809K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score80/100
Earnings Multiple12.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Information Sciences 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
Computer network architects
+11.9% 10-yr growth · 11,200 openings/yr
$130,390/yr
High
6
Information security analysts
+28.5% 10-yr growth · 16,000 openings/yr
$124,910/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 Information Sciences

How Illinois State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
84
DW Score
$146K
1-yr earn
10.3x
ROI
Top score
University of California-Los Angeles
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$136K
1-yr earn
38.8x
ROI
Yale University
CT · Private nonprofit
83
DW Score
$133K
1-yr earn
9.5x
ROI
Rice University
TX · Private nonprofit
82
DW Score
$131K
1-yr earn
8.2x
ROI
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
79
DW Score
$116K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Also at Illinois State University

Other top programs at Illinois State University

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

Consider the trade route

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

Compare Information Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Information Sciences at Illinois State University

How does Illinois State University's Information Sciences program score?

A score of 79/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Illinois State University's Information Sciences graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Information Sciences to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Information Sciences 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.