Computer Scienceat Smith College
Graduates earn $66,981/yr in their first year — about 9.0% below the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $694K; scenarios range from $575K to $714K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Smith College
While the initial earnings might seem modest for a top-tier school, this reflects Smith's identity as a liberal arts college, not a pre-professional tech institute. You're not just learning to code; you're learning computational thinking alongside humanities and sciences, preparing you for complex problem-solving. Smith's location in Western Massachusetts means fewer graduates walk directly into high-paying Boston or Silicon Valley jobs. Instead, many leverage the powerful Five College Consortium and Smith's tight-knit alumnae network to land roles in diverse sectors like academia, government, or mission-driven tech startups where starting salaries are lower. The curriculum emphasizes adaptability, which is crucial given the AI risk.
Your key move: Actively use the consortium to take specialized courses at UMass Amherst and network heavily through Smith's alumnae channels to find mentors in your target tech hubs.
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 Smith 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 Smith College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Smith College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Smith 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 Smith College
How does Smith College's Computer Science program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Smith College 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 72% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Computer Science at Smith College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $246,272, but the average net cost is $104,724 — a 57% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.