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Computer Science at Salem State University

Salem, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Computer and Information Sciences, General
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
67
Optimistic
66
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $57,706/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (338,800 openings/yr)
ROI 12.9x earnings multiple (8.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #343 of 443 Computer and Information Sciences, General programs

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 $628K $617K $537K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.1x 12.9x 11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.3x 8.1x 7.1x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 74% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 67 66 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,912
Out-of-state: $75,844 (8.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,764
-54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,250
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$88,627
54% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $57,706/yr, Computer Science graduates from Salem State University land near the $62,617 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 12.9x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $26,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #343 out of 443 programs, Salem State University's financial outcomes for Computer Science trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Salem State University

With 96% of applicants admitted, Salem State University prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 4,286 students in Salem, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Salem State 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 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 443 schools offering Computer Science →

Computer Science 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 Salem State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($80,641) Chemistry ($49,439) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,897) Biology, General ($45,670) Social Work ($45,450) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($44,812) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($40,506) Sociology ($39,822)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Computer Science 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 Salem State University's Computer Science program score?
A score of 66/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Salem State University trails the majority of Computer Science programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 69% 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 →