Computer Scienceat Indiana University-Northwest
Graduates earn $36,053/yr in their first year — about 51.0% below the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $621K; scenarios range from $536K to $634K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Indiana University-Northwest
While the career paths for computer science are lucrative nationally, your post-graduation earnings here are deeply tied to the regional economy of Northwest Indiana. This is not a major tech hub, and the data reflects that graduates often find work in local IT support, database management for small to mid-sized businesses, or roles within the area's established manufacturing and healthcare sectors. These positions are valuable but don't command the high salaries seen in competitive tech centers like Chicago, just an hour away. The program provides a solid, accessible education, but it lacks the aggressive recruiting pipelines and national reputation that funnel graduates directly into top-tier software engineering roles at major tech firms.
For a significant return on your investment, your key action is to aggressively pursue internships and build a professional network in the much larger Chicago market while you study.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Indiana University-Northwest's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Computer Science
How Indiana University-Northwest stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Indiana University-Northwest
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Indiana University-Northwest, 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 →Frequently asked about Computer Science at Indiana University-Northwest
What does a 57/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Computer Science at Indiana University-Northwest?
At 57/100, the score looks reasonable — but Computer Science is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Computer Science at Indiana University-Northwest?
The 72% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Indiana University-Northwest a good choice for Computer Science despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Indiana University-Northwest's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.