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Computer Science at St Olaf College

Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
76
Optimistic
75
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $82,278/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 4.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #201 of 345 Computer Science programs

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 $986K $941K $711K
Earnings Multiple 4.3x 4.1x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 75 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$227,880
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$91,008
60% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,125
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$105,613
28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $82,278 at St Olaf College come in 12% above the national median of $73,713 for Computer Science programs.

The 4.1x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 72% task exposure — and the 28% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $82,278 far exceeding the $23,125 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #201 out of 345 programs, St Olaf College's financial outcomes for Computer Science trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $82,278 to $105,613 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About St Olaf College

A 52% admission rate makes St Olaf College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 3,049 in Northfield, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $91,008 — 60% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at St Olaf College →

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 St Olaf College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,078) Mathematics ($58,825) Economics ($56,238) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($47,807) Social Work ($45,146) Chemistry ($44,020) Biology, General ($36,429) Religion/Religious Studies ($36,329)

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 St Olaf College's Computer Science program score?
A score of 75/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but St Olaf 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 St Olaf College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $227,880, but the average net cost is $91,008 — a 60% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →