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Computer and Information Sciences, General at Dakota State University

Madison, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $61,287/yr (-2% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (338,800 openings/yr)

ROI 16.5x earnings multiple (12.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #219 of 443 Computer and Information Sciences, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$648K	$635K	$547K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.8x	16.5x	14.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	12.7x	12.5x	10.7x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	74%	42%
DegreeOutlook Score	79	78	72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,532

Out-of-state: $50,940 (12.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$78,900

-105% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,059

3.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$67,572

10% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $61,287/yr, roughly in line with the $62,617 national median for Computer and Information Sciences, General. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 69% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $61,287 far exceeding the $20,059 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #219 out of 443 programs, Dakota State University's Computer and Information Sciences, General offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $61,287 to $67,572 over five years (10% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Dakota State University

Dakota State University accepts 98% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,969 in Madison, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at Dakota State University →

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 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Dakota State University's Computer and Information Sciences, General program score?

A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Dakota State University's Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Computer and Information Sciences, General to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Computer and Information Sciences, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 69% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →