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Computer and Information Sciences, General at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
90 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
90
Optimistic
90
Base Case
83
Pessimistic
Earnings $96,432/yr (54% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (338,800 openings/yr)
ROI 19.4x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #10 of 443 Computer and Information Sciences, General programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,262K $1,200K $868K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.4x 19.4x 14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.6x 8.2x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 74% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 90 90 83

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,912
Out-of-state: $146,776 (8.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$95,160
-54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
2.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$135,082
40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Computer and Information Sciences, General program earn $96,432/yr in their first year — 54% above the $62,617 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 19.4x 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 31% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

At $20,500 in median debt against $96,432 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #10 out of 443 programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Computer and Information Sciences, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $96,432 to $135,082 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

With a 57% acceptance rate, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is moderately selective, with 30,435 students enrolled in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University →

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 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 443 schools offering Computer and Information Sciences, General →

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Other Schools

University of Pennsylvania ($146,204) University of California-Los Angeles ($136,099) Yale University ($133,293) Rice University ($131,154) Northeastern University ($115,587) Northeastern University Professional Programs ($115,587) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($113,634) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($113,503)

Compare Computer and Information Sciences, General

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University vs University of California-Los Angeles → Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University vs University of Michigan-Ann Arbor →

Other Majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Computer Engineering ($86,636) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($83,364) Construction Engineering ($82,627) Industrial Engineering ($82,437) Chemical Engineering ($82,382) Applied Mathematics ($82,275) Engineering Mechanics ($81,735) Mechanical Engineering ($78,280)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Computer and Information Sciences, General 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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Computer and Information Sciences, General program score?
A score of 90/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer and Information Sciences, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer and Information Sciences, General 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.
Why does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University rank so high for Computer and Information Sciences, General?
The #10 ranking out of 443 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 →