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Computer Science at University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
87 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
88
Optimistic
87
Base Case
80
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,040/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 18.5x earnings multiple (9.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #41 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 $1,120K $1,063K $777K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.5x 18.5x 13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.5x 9.0x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 88 87 80

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,352
Out-of-state: $117,440 (9.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$49,252
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,418
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$116,325
49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Illinois Chicago's Computer Science graduates start at $78,040/yr — above the $73,713 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 18.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 72% of job tasks, producing a 31% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,418 in median debt clears quickly against $78,040 in annual earnings.

Ranked #41 out of 345 programs, University of Illinois Chicago's Computer Science program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $78,040 to $116,325 shows 49% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Illinois Chicago

A 78% acceptance rate means University of Illinois Chicago is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 21,814 in Chicago, IL. With 50% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Chicago →

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 University of Illinois Chicago

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,045) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($72,926) Computer Engineering ($71,148) Mechanical Engineering ($69,871) Civil Engineering ($69,310) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($65,781) Accounting and Related Services ($65,680) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($60,917)

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 University of Illinois Chicago's Computer Science program score?
A score of 87/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Illinois Chicago'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 University of Illinois Chicago rank so high for Computer Science?
The #41 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 →