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Computer & Information Sciences · Information Sciences Rank #347 of 443

Information Sciencesat South Texas College

Graduates earn $40,288/yr in their first year — about 36.0% below the national Information Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $589K; scenarios range from $521K to $598K depending on AI disruption.

McAllen, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
66 SOLID
67
Optimistic
66
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,288
1-year post-graduation
ROI
28.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$589K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at South Texas College

While the career paths listed represent the high end of the tech industry, your initial earnings will be shaped by the Rio Grande Valley's local economy. This region isn't a major tech hub like Austin or Dallas, so the jobs available to new graduates are often in IT support, network administration, or web development for local businesses, school districts, and healthcare systems. The lower cost of living in the McAllen area also corresponds to more modest starting salaries compared to national benchmarks. Your degree provides a strong technical foundation, but breaking into higher-paying software development or data science roles may require relocating or building a remote work portfolio. To maximize your investment, actively seek out internships with national companies that recruit remotely; this experience will be your most valuable asset when competing for jobs outside the local market.

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
$521K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple26.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$589K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple29.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$598K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple30.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to South Texas College'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 Texas College 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
Same state (TX)
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 Texas College

Other top programs at South Texas College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Texas College, 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 Texas College

What does a 66/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Information Sciences at South Texas College?

At 66/100, the score looks reasonable — but Information Sciences is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Should I worry about AI if I study Information Sciences at South Texas College?

The 69% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is South Texas College a good choice for Information Sciences despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If South Texas College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.

What do students actually pay for Information Sciences at South Texas College?

The 74% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $19,680. At a net cost of $5,164, the earnings multiple improves substantially.