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Computer & Information Sciences · Computer Science Rank #212 of 345

Computer Scienceat Winston-Salem State University

Graduates earn $50,927/yr in their first year — about 31.0% below the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $567K; scenarios range from $506K to $575K depending on AI disruption.

Winston-Salem, NC Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
74 STRONG
75
Optimistic
67
Pessimistic
Earnings
$50,927
1-year post-graduation
ROI
20.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$567K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Winston-Salem State University

While the career paths listed are national ideals, your initial job offers will likely be grounded in the regional economy of North Carolina's Piedmont Triad. Unlike the major tech hubs of Raleigh-Durham or Charlotte, Winston-Salem's market is dominated by healthcare (Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist) and finance (Truist), which hire for internal IT and software roles rather than cutting-edge product development. This often means stable, but more moderately compensated, first jobs. As an HBCU, WSSU has strong community ties, but may not have the same national recruiting pipelines as larger research universities.

To maximize your earnings, focus aggressively on internships. Proactively seek opportunities beyond the immediate area in the Research Triangle or Charlotte, as experience with companies there will give you a significant advantage and open up higher-paying career tracks upon graduation.

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
$506K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple18.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$567K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple21.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$575K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple21.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Winston-Salem State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Computer Science 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
Information security analysts
+28.5% 10-yr growth · 16,000 openings/yr
$124,910/yr
High
6
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/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 Computer Science

How Winston-Salem State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Institute of Technology
CA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$173K
1-yr earn
5.9x
ROI
Carnegie Mellon University
PA · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$171K
1-yr earn
8.9x
ROI
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MA · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$154K
1-yr earn
8.1x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
80
DW Score
$153K
1-yr earn
7.3x
ROI
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$152K
1-yr earn
8.3x
ROI
Also at Winston-Salem State University

Other top programs at Winston-Salem State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Winston-Salem State University, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Computer Science at Winston-Salem State University

How does Winston-Salem State University's Computer Science program score?

A score of 74/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Winston-Salem State University 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.

Why are Computer Science earnings lower at Winston-Salem State University?

Lower starting pay at Winston-Salem State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.