Home › University at Buffalo › Computer Science

Computer Science at University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $72,283/yr (-2% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)

ROI 23.7x earnings multiple (8.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #49 of 345 Computer Science programs Top 25%

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	$1,077K	$1,024K	$756K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	25.0x	23.7x	17.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.8x	8.4x	6.2x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	73%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	88	87	80

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,128

Out-of-state: $122,288 (8.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$81,880

-90% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,000

3.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$110,541

53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $72,283/yr, Computer Science graduates from University at Buffalo land near the $73,713 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 23.7x 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 30% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $19,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #49 out of 345 programs, University at Buffalo's Computer Science program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $72,283 to $110,541 over five years (53% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University at Buffalo

University at Buffalo accepts 69% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with 20,284 students enrolled in Buffalo, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at University at Buffalo →

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

Computer Science at Other Schools

Other Majors at University at Buffalo

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University at Buffalo's Computer Science program score?

A score of 87/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University at Buffalo'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 does University at Buffalo rank so high for Computer Science?

The #49 ranking out of 345 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →