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Computer Science at Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
81 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
83
Optimistic
81
Base Case
74
Pessimistic
Earnings $62,831/yr (-15% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 16.8x earnings multiple (9.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #130 of 345 Computer Science programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer Science graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $869K $835K $653K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.5x 16.8x 13.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.6x 9.2x 7.2x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 83 81 74

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$49,532
Out-of-state: $90,904 (9.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,200
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,070
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$89,158
42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $62,831/yr, roughly in line with the $73,713 national median for Computer Science. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.8x 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 — 72% task exposure — and the 25% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $62,831 far exceeding the $13,070 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #130 out of 345 programs, Northeastern Illinois University's Computer Science offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $62,831 to $89,158 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University accepts 70% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 3,869 in Chicago, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 54% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern Illinois University →

Top Career Paths

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 345 schools offering Computer Science →

Computer Science at Other Schools

California Institute of Technology ($173,344) Carnegie Mellon University ($171,264) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($154,492) Cornell University ($152,656) Harvard University ($152,251) Brown University ($151,065) University of California-Berkeley ($149,866) Princeton University ($146,624)

Other Majors at Northeastern Illinois University

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($63,615) Accounting and Related Services ($50,475) Human Resources Management and Services ($49,131) Finance and Financial Management Services ($48,807) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,630) Business/Commerce, General ($45,015) Marketing ($43,320) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($42,976)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northeastern Illinois University's Computer Science program score?
A score of 81/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Northeastern Illinois University's Computer Science graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 72% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →