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Computer Science at Amherst College

Amherst, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
79 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
80
Optimistic
79
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $100,596/yr (36% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 6.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #151 of 345 Computer Science programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer Science graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,993K $1,856K $1,211K
Earnings Multiple 7.4x 6.9x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 80 79 73

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$269,120
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,984
73% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,750
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$194,751
94% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $100,596 per year, Computer Science graduates from Amherst College significantly outpace the $73,713 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

At 6.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI exposure is significant at 72% of job tasks, producing a 39% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

The median debt load of $16,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #151 out of 345 programs, Amherst College's Computer Science offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $100,596 to $194,751 over five years (94% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Amherst College

With just 10% of applicants admitted, Amherst College ranks among the nation's most selective schools, with a smaller student body of 1,907 in Amherst, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $72,984 — 73% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Amherst College →

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 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 345 schools offering Computer Science →

Computer Science at Other Schools

California Institute of Technology ($173,344) Carnegie Mellon University ($171,264) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($154,492) Cornell University ($152,656) Harvard University ($152,251) Brown University ($151,065) University of California-Berkeley ($149,866) Princeton University ($146,624)

Other Majors at Amherst College

Economics ($90,568) Mathematics ($78,500) Political Science and Government ($61,125) History ($56,444) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($49,322) Area Studies ($49,149) Research and Experimental Psychology ($45,786) English Language and Literature, General ($41,979)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Amherst College's Computer Science program score?
A score of 79/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Amherst College's Computer Science graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
How affordable is Computer Science at Amherst College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $269,120, but the average net cost is $72,984 — a 73% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →