Computer Scienceat Lehigh University
Graduates earn $88,587/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,165K; scenarios range from $833K to $1,233K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Lehigh University
At $88,587 per year, Computer Science graduates from Lehigh University earn slightly above the $73,713 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
An earnings multiple of 4.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.
The 32% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 72% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Computer Science graduates.
The median debt load of $23,854 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #184 of 345 Computer Science programs, Lehigh University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $88,587 to $129,863 over five years — a 47% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 Lehigh University'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 Lehigh University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Lehigh University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Lehigh University, 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 Lehigh University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Computer Science at Lehigh University?
This program scores 77/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Computer Science programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Computer Science careers?
With 72% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $833,350 in decade earnings vs $1,232,793 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.