Computer Scienceat University of Maryland-College Park
Graduates earn $99,756/yr in their first year — about 35.0% above the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $968K; scenarios range from $725K to $1,015K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Maryland-College Park
The strong earning potential for UMD computer science graduates isn't just about the program's quality—it's about its strategic location. Situated just outside Washington, D.C., you're at the epicenter of the massive government and defense contracting industry. Companies like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and countless federal agencies are in a constant, high-stakes talent war for cleared software engineers, cybersecurity experts, and data scientists. This creates a robust local job market with unusually high starting salaries.
Beyond the public sector, the program's national reputation creates a powerful recruiting pipeline to Big Tech and finance hubs. While the AI risk seems high, it reflects the field's evolution; your focus will be on building and managing these complex systems, not being replaced by them. For a competitive edge, seek out an internship that requires a security clearance—it's a golden ticket in this regional market.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Maryland-College Park's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Computer Science
How University of Maryland-College Park stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Maryland-College Park
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maryland-College Park, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Computer Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Computer Science at University of Maryland-College Park
How does University of Maryland-College Park's Computer Science program score?
A score of 77/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Maryland-College Park 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.