Information Sciencesat Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Graduates earn $46,254/yr in their first year — about 26.0% below the national Information Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $520K; scenarios range from $482K to $523K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Starting salaries of $46,254/yr fall 26% below the $62,617 national median for Information Sciences. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Information Sciences's typical career paths, with 69% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $46,254 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #405 of 443 Information Sciences programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale'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 Information Sciences
How Southern Illinois University-Carbondale stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, 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 →Frequently asked about Information Sciences at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Information Sciences at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
This program scores 58/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Information Sciences programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Information Sciences careers?
With 69% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $482,279 in decade earnings vs $522,876 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Information Sciences from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.