Information Sciencesat Kent State University at Kent
Graduates earn $43,059/yr in their first year — about 31.0% below the national Information Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $626K; scenarios range from $542K to $638K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Kent State
While the initial earnings might seem low for a computer science degree, it's important to understand the regional context. Kent State primarily serves the Northeast Ohio economy, which isn't a high-cost, high-salary tech hub like Silicon Valley or Seattle. Your first job is more likely to be with a major regional employer like Progressive Insurance, Goodyear, or a Cleveland-based healthcare system rather than a coastal tech giant. These are stable, corporate IT roles—think internal software development, database management, or systems analysis—that offer a great quality of life on a local salary but don't compete with national pay scales at the entry level. The career paths shown are long-term goals, not starting points.
To maximize your potential here, aggressively pursue internships in Columbus or Cleveland. A strong work portfolio is your ticket to transcending the regional market if you decide to relocate later in your career.
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 Kent State'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 Information Sciences
How Kent State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Kent State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Kent State, 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 →Frequently asked about Information Sciences at Kent State
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Information Sciences at Kent State University at Kent?
This program scores 64/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Information Sciences programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Information Sciences careers?
With 69% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $542,392 in decade earnings vs $638,253 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Information Sciences from Kent State University at Kent?
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.