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Computer & Information Sciences · Information Sciences Rank #35 of 443

Information Sciencesat University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Graduates earn $73,385/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Information Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,147K; scenarios range from $837K to $1,204K depending on AI disruption.

Seattle, WA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
88 ELITE
89
Optimistic
81
Pessimistic
Earnings
$73,385
1-year post-graduation
ROI
23.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$1,147K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Washington

At $73,385 per year, Information Sciences graduates from University of Washington-Seattle Campus earn slightly above the $62,617 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 22.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 69% of job tasks, producing a 30% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

The median debt load of $15,127 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #35 ranking out of 443 Information Sciences programs nationally puts University of Washington-Seattle Campus in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $73,385 to $121,341 over five years (65% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

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
$837K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score81/100
Earnings Multiple16.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,147K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score88/100
Earnings Multiple22.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,204K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score89/100
Earnings Multiple23.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Washington'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 University of Washington 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 University of Washington

Other top programs at University of Washington

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Washington, 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 University of Washington

How does University of Washington-Seattle Campus's Information Sciences program score?

A score of 88/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Washington-Seattle Campus's Information Sciences graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Information Sciences to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Information Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 69% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.