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Information Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Information Science/Studies
85 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
86
Optimistic
85
Base Case
79
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,834/yr (28% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (68% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (221,900 openings/yr)
ROI 24.9x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #3 of 129 Information Science/Studies programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Information Science graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $933K $897K $699K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 25.9x 24.9x 19.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.7x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 74% 68% 39%
DegreeOutlook Score 86 85 79

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,956
Out-of-state: $157,320 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,932
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,197
2.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$102,438
35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Information Science program earn $75,834/yr in their first year — 28% above the $59,433 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 24.9x 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 — 68% task exposure — and the 25% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $13,197 in median debt against $75,834 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #3 out of 129 programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Information Science program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $75,834 to $102,438 shows 35% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admits 19% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with 20,556 students enrolled in Chapel Hill, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill →

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 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 129 schools offering Information Science →

Information Science at Other Schools

Northwestern University ($102,998) Norwich University ($98,551) Excelsior University ($88,713) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($88,515) Boston College ($80,731) Albright College ($80,329) James Madison University ($80,173) Utah Valley University ($79,918)

Other Majors at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Computer Science ($90,293) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($85,618) Applied Mathematics ($75,105) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,594) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($70,561) Economics ($65,344) Physics ($62,647) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($56,721)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Information 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Information Science program score?
A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Information Science graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Information Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Information Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 68% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill rank so high for Information Science?
The #3 ranking out of 129 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 →