Computer Scienceat Occidental College
Graduates earn $63,845/yr in their first year — about 13.0% below the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $667K; scenarios range from $561K to $685K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Occidental College
Graduates earn $63,845/yr, roughly in line with the $73,713 national median for Computer Science. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Computer Science's typical career paths, with 72% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $63,845 far exceeding the $22,067 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #313 of 345 Computer Science programs, Occidental College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
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 Occidental College'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 Occidental College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Occidental College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Occidental College, 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 Occidental College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Computer Science at Occidental College?
This program scores 58/100 — 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 $561,122 in decade earnings vs $684,828 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.