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Computer & Information Sciences · Computer Science Rank #263 of 345

Computer Scienceat Murray State University

Graduates earn $36,938/yr in their first year — about 50.0% below the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $996K; scenarios range from $741K to $1,046K depending on AI disruption.

Murray, KY Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
66
Optimistic
68
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,938
1-year post-graduation
ROI
21.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$996K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Murray State University

While the career paths listed are national benchmarks for the field, your actual starting point from Murray State will likely look different. The earnings data reflects a strong regional focus. Many graduates find roles with local and regional employers in Kentucky and Tennessee—think IT support for hospitals, database management for logistics companies, or junior developer roles at smaller firms, not the high-stakes world of Silicon Valley startups. These are stable, valuable careers, but they operate in a different cost-of-living and salary ecosystem than major tech hubs.

The program provides a solid, traditional computer science foundation, but it lacks the deep recruiting pipelines to national tech giants. To overcome this geographic disadvantage and aim for higher-paying remote or out-of-state roles, you must be proactive. Your key action is to aggressively build a standout portfolio of personal projects and secure at least one competitive, national-level internship before you graduate.

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
$741K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple19.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$996K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple25.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,046K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple26.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Computer Science 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
Information security analysts
+28.5% 10-yr growth · 16,000 openings/yr
$124,910/yr
High
6
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/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 Computer Science

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

Highest earnings
California Institute of Technology
CA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$173K
1-yr earn
5.9x
ROI
Carnegie Mellon University
PA · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$171K
1-yr earn
8.9x
ROI
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MA · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$154K
1-yr earn
8.1x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
80
DW Score
$153K
1-yr earn
7.3x
ROI
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$152K
1-yr earn
8.3x
ROI
Also at Murray State University

Other top programs at Murray State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Murray State 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Computer Science at Murray State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Computer Science at Murray State University?

This program scores 65/100 — 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 $740,604 in decade earnings vs $1,046,103 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Computer Science from Murray State University?

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.