Information Scienceat Western Oregon University
Graduates earn $39,320/yr in their first year — about 34.0% below the national Information Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $464K; scenarios range from $449K to $462K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Western Oregon University
While the career paths listed for this field are lucrative, the data suggests graduates from this specific program aren't landing those elite roles right away. This is likely a story of location and program focus. Western Oregon is not situated in a major tech hub like Portland or Seattle, meaning the high-paying internships and direct recruiting pipelines from major tech firms are less common. An "Information Science" degree can also be less technically rigorous than a pure computer science or engineering program, often preparing you for roles in IT support, systems administration, or data management rather than high-level software development.
Your key takeaway: to compete for top salaries, you must aggressively build a portfolio of coding projects and seek internships outside the local area to prove your skills to employers in major tech markets.
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 Western Oregon University'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 Science
How Western Oregon University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Western Oregon University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Western Oregon University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Information Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Information Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Information Science at Western Oregon University
How does Western Oregon University's Information Science program score?
This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Information Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Information Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Information Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 68% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Information Science earnings lower at Western Oregon University?
Lower starting pay at Western Oregon University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.