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Computer & Information Sciences · Computer Science Rank #260 of 345

Computer Scienceat Pomona College

Graduates earn $143,084/yr in their first year — about 94.0% above the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,330K; scenarios range from $924K to $1,414K depending on AI disruption.

Claremont, CA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
66 SOLID
67
Optimistic
61
Pessimistic
Earnings
$143,084
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.7x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,330K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Pomona College

While Pomona is a liberal arts college, its computer science outcomes rival top engineering schools. This isn't just about coding skills; it's about the power of the Claremont Colleges consortium. You'll have access to classes and recruiting events at Harvey Mudd, a premier STEM institution, giving you the best of both worlds: a broad, critical-thinking education and deep technical resources.

Your location in Southern California places you in the orbit of both "Silicon Beach" in Los Angeles and the larger Bay Area tech scene. Top employers like Google, Apple, and cutting-edge startups actively recruit from the Claremont schools, seeking graduates who can not only code but also think creatively and lead teams. The high AI risk score reflects that standard software roles are automatable; Pomona prepares you for the less-automatable leadership and research tracks.

Your key move: Cross-register for advanced, specialized courses at Harvey Mudd. This signals deep technical ambition to recruiters who already value the elite Pomona name.

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
$924K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,330K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple5.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,414K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple5.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Pomona College'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 Pomona College 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 Pomona College

Other top programs at Pomona College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Pomona 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Computer Science at Pomona College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Computer Science at Pomona College?

This program scores 66/100 — 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 $923,569 in decade earnings vs $1,414,393 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Pomona College a hidden gem for Computer Science?

After financial aid, the average student pays $77,696 over four years — 69% below the $249,304 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.