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Computer Science at Smith College

Northampton, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,981/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 2.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #309 of 345 Computer Science programs

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 $714K $694K $575K
Earnings Multiple 2.9x 2.8x 2.3x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$246,272
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$104,724
57% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $66,981 track close to the $73,713 national median for Computer Science programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

An earnings multiple of 2.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 72% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,000 in median debt against $66,981 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #309 out of 345 programs, Smith College's financial outcomes for Computer Science trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Smith College

Smith College admits 20% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with a smaller student body of 2,501 in Northampton, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $104,724 — 57% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Smith 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 Smith College

Economics ($71,559) Statistics ($69,250) Engineering, General ($53,571) Research and Experimental Psychology ($43,717) Political Science and Government ($42,327) Neurobiology and Neurosciences ($36,727) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($35,407) Sociology ($35,252)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Smith College's Computer Science program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Smith College 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.
How affordable is Computer Science at Smith College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $246,272, but the average net cost is $104,724 — a 57% 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 →