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Computer Science at Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
79 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
81
Optimistic
79
Base Case
74
Pessimistic
Earnings $118,636/yr (61% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 6.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #157 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 7.2x 6.7x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 81 79 74

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$276,180
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$80,592
71% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,594
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$204,511
72% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Columbia University in the City of New York's Computer Science program earn $118,636/yr in their first year — 61% above the $73,713 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

At 6.7x 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.

At $19,594 in median debt against $118,636 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #157 out of 345 programs, Columbia University in the City of New York's Computer Science offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $118,636 to $204,511 over five years (72% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University in the City of New York admits 4% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, enrolling 8,899 students in New York, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $80,592 over four years — 71% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia University in the City of New York →

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 Columbia University in the City of New York

Operations Research ($110,457) Computer Engineering ($102,083) Applied Mathematics ($91,559) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,019) Economics ($83,135) Mechanical Engineering ($72,036) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($62,895) Political Science and Government ($61,077)

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 Columbia University in the City of New York's Computer Science program score?
A score of 79/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Columbia University in the City of New York'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 Columbia University in the City of New York after financial aid?
Sticker price is $276,180, but the average net cost is $80,592 — a 71% 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 →