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Computer & Information Sciences · Information Sciences Rank #417 of 443

Information Sciencesat South Carolina State University

Graduates earn $30,082/yr in their first year — about 52.0% below the national Information Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $900K; scenarios range from $698K to $936K depending on AI disruption.

Orangeburg, SC Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
55 SOLID
56
Optimistic
61
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,082
1-year post-graduation
ROI
16.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$900K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at South Carolina State University

While the career paths listed show high national potential, your actual starting salary will be shaped by the local job market. South Carolina State, located in a more rural area, doesn't have the same direct pipeline to high-paying tech hubs as universities in major metropolitan centers. Many graduates find their first roles with regional businesses, government contractors, or in IT support rather than at a major software firm like Google or Microsoft. These are often stable, valuable positions, but they operate on a different pay scale. The "General" focus of the curriculum may also prepare you for a broader range of IT functions, not just specialized, high-demand software engineering. To maximize your earnings, you must be proactive: aggressively pursue remote work opportunities and build a portfolio that demonstrates skills competitive in any major tech market, not just the local one.

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
$698K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple15.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$900K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple20.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$936K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple21.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to South Carolina State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Information Sciences 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
Computer network architects
+11.9% 10-yr growth · 11,200 openings/yr
$130,390/yr
High
6
Information security analysts
+28.5% 10-yr growth · 16,000 openings/yr
$124,910/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 Information Sciences

How South Carolina State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
84
DW Score
$146K
1-yr earn
10.3x
ROI
Top score
University of California-Los Angeles
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$136K
1-yr earn
38.8x
ROI
Yale University
CT · Private nonprofit
83
DW Score
$133K
1-yr earn
9.5x
ROI
Rice University
TX · Private nonprofit
82
DW Score
$131K
1-yr earn
8.2x
ROI
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
79
DW Score
$116K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Also at South Carolina State University

Other top programs at South Carolina State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Carolina State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Information Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Information Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Information Sciences at South Carolina State University

How does South Carolina State University's Information Sciences program score?

A score of 55/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but South Carolina State University trails the majority of Information Sciences programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

Do South Carolina State University Information Sciences graduates earn enough to justify the loans?

The debt-to-income ratio of 1.0x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.

How vulnerable is Information Sciences to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Information Sciences 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 are Information Sciences earnings lower at South Carolina State University?

Lower starting pay at South Carolina State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.