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Computer Science at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
85 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
86
Optimistic
85
Base Case
78
Pessimistic
Earnings $70,053/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 18.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #84 of 345 Computer Science programs Top 25%

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 $1,038K $988K $736K
Earnings Multiple 19.6x 18.6x 13.9x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 86 85 78

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$52,976
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,708
-22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$106,322
52% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $70,053/yr, Computer Science graduates from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale land near the $73,713 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 18.6x 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 — 72% task exposure — and the 29% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $27,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #84 out of 345 programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Computer Science program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $70,053 to $106,322 over five years (52% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

With 90% of applicants admitted, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale prioritizes broad access, enrolling 8,116 students in Carbondale, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale →

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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Fire Protection ($104,017) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($73,283) Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($72,495) Mechanical Engineering ($69,454) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($69,021) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($68,670) Civil Engineering ($65,269) Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians ($62,503)

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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Computer Science program score?
A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale'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.
Why does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale rank so high for Computer Science?
The #84 ranking out of 345 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →