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Computer Science at University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $81,034/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 14.3x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #224 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 $843K $811K $640K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.9x 14.3x 11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.7x 4.5x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,680
Out-of-state: $179,788 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,828
3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

University of California-Riverside's Computer Science graduates start at $81,034/yr — above the $73,713 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 14.3x 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 24% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,000 in median debt clears quickly against $81,034 in annual earnings.

At #224 out of 345 programs, University of California-Riverside's financial outcomes for Computer Science trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of California-Riverside

University of California-Riverside's 63% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 22,644 in Riverside, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Riverside →

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 University of California-Riverside

Information Science/Studies ($76,090) Chemical Engineering ($68,245) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($66,430) Computer Engineering ($65,049) Mechanical Engineering ($62,554) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($61,342) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($59,309) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($43,213)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 of California-Riverside's Computer Science program score?
A score of 72/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of California-Riverside 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →