Information Sciencesat Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Graduates earn $96,432/yr in their first year — about 54.0% above the national Information Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,200K; scenarios range from $868K to $1,262K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech's reputation as an engineering powerhouse directly fuels these strong outcomes. While Blacksburg isn't a major tech hub, the university itself is a recruiting destination. Its proximity to the Washington, D.C. metro area creates a powerful pipeline into high-paying government contracting and cybersecurity roles with firms like Northrop Grumman and Booz Allen Hamilton. Beyond that, major tech companies from Silicon Valley and Wall Street actively recruit on campus, seeking graduates from a program known for its rigorous, practical curriculum. You'll be competing with highly motivated peers for these opportunities, so your path won't be easy. To stand out, get involved in specialized departmental research, like in human-computer interaction or machine learning, to build a unique profile that recruiters will notice.
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 Virginia Tech'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 Information Sciences
How Virginia Tech stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Virginia Tech
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Virginia Tech, 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 →Frequently asked about Information Sciences at Virginia Tech
How does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Information Sciences program score?
A score of 90/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University'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.
Why does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University rank so high for Information Sciences?
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.