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Computer Science at Southern Utah University

Cedar City, UT · Public · Bachelor's Degree
80 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
81
Optimistic
80
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $49,655/yr (-33% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 30.6x earnings multiple (10.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #146 of 345 Computer Science programs Top 50%

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 $862K $829K $649K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 31.8x 30.6x 24.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.5x 10.1x 7.9x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 81 80 73

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,080
Out-of-state: $82,344 (10.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$45,728
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$83,405
68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $49,655/yr fall 33% below the $73,713 national median for Computer Science. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 30.6x 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 — 72% task exposure — and the 25% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #146 out of 345 programs, Southern Utah University's Computer Science offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $49,655 to $83,405 over five years (68% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University has a 80% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 9,533 in Cedar City, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Utah 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 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 345 schools offering Computer Science →

Computer Science at Other Schools

California Institute of Technology ($173,344) Carnegie Mellon University ($171,264) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($154,492) Cornell University ($152,656) Harvard University ($152,251) Brown University ($151,065) University of California-Berkeley ($149,866) Princeton University ($146,624)

Other Majors at Southern Utah University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,898) Accounting and Related Services ($55,425) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,832) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($45,042) Engineering Technology, General ($43,320) Economics ($43,266) Agriculture, General ($41,071) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($39,744)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Southern Utah University's Computer Science program score?
A score of 80/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Southern Utah University's Computer Science graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Why are Computer Science earnings lower at Southern Utah University?
Lower starting pay at Southern Utah University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →