Home › Virginia Commonwealth University › Security Science and Technology

Security Science and Technology at Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,501/yr (-7% vs median)

AI Risk High (46% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (385,400 openings/yr)

ROI 8.2x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #21 of 41 Security Science and Technology programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$544K	$541K	$493K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.3x	8.2x	7.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.5x	3.5x	3.2x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	32%	23%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	51	39

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 (3.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$77,808

-18% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,583

7.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,080

55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $37,501/yr, Security Science and Technology graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University land near the $40,284 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

At 8.2x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,583 debt-to-$37,501 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #21 out of 41 programs, Virginia Commonwealth University's financial outcomes for Security Science and Technology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $37,501 to $58,080 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

With 93% of applicants admitted, Virginia Commonwealth University prioritizes broad access, serving a student body of 20,797 in Richmond, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Information security analysts $124,910/yr

Computer occupations, all other $108,970/yr

View all 17 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Security Science and Technology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Virginia Commonwealth University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 Virginia Commonwealth University's Security Science and Technology program score?

A score of 51/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Virginia Commonwealth University trails the majority of Security Science and Technology programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

How vulnerable is Security Science and Technology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Security Science and Technology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% 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 →