Computer Science: Boise State University vs University of California-San Diego

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
29.9x
$35,128 tuition
22.9x
$61,060 tuition
Out-of-State
9.7x
$107,904 tuition
7.6x
$184,168 tuition
$1,050,701 10-yr earnings · Public
$1,399,329 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

Boise State University University of California-San Diego
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 29.9x 22.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.7x 7.6x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $35,128 $61,060
Year 1 Earnings $85,596 $112,006
10-Year Earnings $1,051K $1,399K
Median Debt $26,000 $16,166
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 3.6 months 1.7 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 85/100 85/100
Acceptance Rate 84.0% 24.5%

Both programs have very high AI automation risk (72% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Computer Science graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Computer Science graduates.

Boise State University University of California-San Diego
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $35,128 $61,060
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $107,904 $184,168
10-Year Projected Earnings $1,051K $1,399K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 29.9x 22.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.7x 7.6x
5-Year Salary Growth +38% +43%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Computer Science (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Boise State University University of California-San Diego
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,107K $1,051K $771K $1,490K $1,399K $961K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 31.5x 29.9x 21.9x 24.4x 22.9x 15.7x
DegreeWorth Score 87 85 75 87 85 73

For the full AI analysis of Computer Science career paths, see the Boise State University or University of California-San Diego program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Computer Science graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$25,932
Boise State University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$26,410/yr
University of California-San Diego grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
29.9x / 22.9x
Out-of-state: 9.7x / 7.6x

Career Paths

Computer Science graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Computer and information systems managers $171,200 55,600 +15.2% 53%
Computer and information research scientists $140,910 3,200 +19.7% 63%
Database architects $135,980 4,000 +8.7% 94%
Software developers $133,080 115,200 +15.8% 87%
Information security analysts $124,910 16,000 +28.5% 65%
Data scientists $112,590 23,400 +33.5% 64%
Computer occupations, all other $108,970 31,300 +8.2% 57%
Software quality assurance analysts and testers $102,610 14,000 +10.0% 88%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

More Computer Science Comparisons

Computer Science Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Computer Science: Boise State University or University of California-San Diego?
Boise State University scores 85/100 while University of California-San Diego scores 85/100. Boise State University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Computer Science?
Boise State University has an in-state earnings multiple of 29.9x vs University of California-San Diego's 22.9x. That means Boise State University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $25,932 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do Boise State University and University of California-San Diego compare on Computer Science earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $85,596 at Boise State University vs $112,006 at University of California-San Diego. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $1,050,701 vs $1,399,329 — a difference of $348,628.
How much does Computer Science cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $35,128 at Boise State University and $61,060 at University of California-San Diego. Median debt at graduation is $26,000 vs $16,166. Both programs lead to the same Computer Science career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.