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Information Science/Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $62,116/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (68% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (221,900 openings/yr)

ROI 12.0x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #54 of 129 Information Science/Studies programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$817K	$791K	$638K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.4x	12.0x	9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.2x	5.1x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	74%	68%	39%
DegreeOutlook Score	76	75	69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$65,832

Out-of-state: $156,168 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$77,808

-18% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

4.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$86,853

40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Virginia Commonwealth University's Information Science/Studies program produces graduates earning $62,116/yr — within striking distance of the $59,433 national average for this field.

The 12.0x 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 22% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,500 in median debt clears quickly against $62,116 in annual earnings.

Ranked #54 out of 129 programs, Virginia Commonwealth University's Information Science/Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $62,116 to $86,853 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

A 93% acceptance rate means Virginia Commonwealth University is accessible to most applicants, with 20,797 students enrolled in Richmond, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth 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 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Information Science/Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Virginia Commonwealth University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Virginia Commonwealth University's Information Science/Studies program score?

A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Virginia Commonwealth University's Information Science/Studies graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Information Science/Studies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Information Science/Studies 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.

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