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Computer and Information Sciences, General at Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
87 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
88
Optimistic
87
Base Case
80
Pessimistic
Earnings $72,132/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (338,800 openings/yr)
ROI 21.7x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #48 of 443 Computer and Information Sciences, General programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $898K $865K $678K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.5x 21.7x 17.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.8x 7.5x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 74% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 88 87 80

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,968
Out-of-state: $115,176 (7.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,780
-40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$94,597
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $72,132 at Purdue University-Main Campus come in 15% above the national median of $62,617 for Computer and Information Sciences, General programs.

The 21.7x 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 — 69% task exposure — and the 25% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $72,132 far exceeding the $19,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #48 out of 443 programs, Purdue University-Main Campus's Computer and Information Sciences, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $72,132 to $94,597 shows 31% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Purdue University-Main Campus

A 50% admission rate makes Purdue University-Main Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with 39,637 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University-Main Campus →

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 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 443 schools offering Computer and Information Sciences, General →

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Other Schools

University of Pennsylvania ($146,204) University of California-Los Angeles ($136,099) Yale University ($133,293) Rice University ($131,154) Northeastern University ($115,587) Northeastern University Professional Programs ($115,587) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($113,634) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($113,503)

Other Majors at Purdue University-Main Campus

Computer Science ($94,786) Computer Engineering ($89,965) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,300) Industrial Engineering ($81,379) Chemical Engineering ($81,105) Mechanical Engineering ($80,374) Materials Engineering ($78,265) Construction Engineering ($76,966)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Computer and Information Sciences, General trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Purdue University-Main Campus's Computer and Information Sciences, General program score?
A score of 87/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Purdue University-Main Campus's Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer and Information Sciences, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer and Information Sciences, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 69% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Purdue University-Main Campus rank so high for Computer and Information Sciences, General?
The #48 ranking out of 443 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →