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Computer & Information Sciences · Information Sciences Rank #204 of 443

Information Sciencesat Swarthmore College

Graduates earn $103,686/yr in their first year — about 66.0% above the national Information Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,364K; scenarios range from $960K to $1,440K depending on AI disruption.

Swarthmore, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
79 STRONG
80
Optimistic
73
Pessimistic
Earnings
$103,686
1-year post-graduation
ROI
5.1x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,364K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Swarthmore College

Swarthmore’s CS program punches far above its weight because it isn't a typical coding bootcamp; it's a theoretical powerhouse embedded in a liberal arts core. You'll graduate with deep fundamentals that Big Tech firms like Google and top-tier quant funds actively recruit for, valuing your ability to solve novel problems, not just apply known frameworks. Your peers will be exceptionally bright, creating a collaborative and competitive environment that pushes everyone. While the Philadelphia tech scene is growing, your opportunities are national; recruiters from Silicon Valley to New York's "Silicon Alley" recognize the Swarthmore name as a mark of intellectual rigor. Your key challenge will be translating this theoretical foundation into practical projects. To stand out, aggressively pursue summer research opportunities or internships to demonstrate you can ship real-world code.

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
$960K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple3.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,364K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score79/100
Earnings Multiple5.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,440K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score80/100
Earnings Multiple5.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore 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
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 Swarthmore College

Other top programs at Swarthmore College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore College

What does a 79/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Information Sciences at Swarthmore College?

At 79/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.

Should I worry about AI if I study Information Sciences at Swarthmore 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.

What do students actually pay for Information Sciences at Swarthmore College?

The 70% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $249,648. At a net cost of $74,744, the earnings multiple improves substantially.