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Computer Science at Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
62 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
63
Optimistic
62
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $58,225/yr (-21% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 7.6x earnings multiple (3.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #293 of 345 Computer Science programs

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 $633K $620K $535K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.7x 7.6x 6.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.1x 3.0x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 62 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$81,936
Out-of-state: $204,744 (3.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,396
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $58,225 place Virginia Military Institute below the $73,713 national median for Computer Science — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

A 7.6x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 15% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Computer Science career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

With first-year pay of $58,225 far exceeding the $26,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #293 ranking among 345 Computer Science programs places Virginia Military Institute in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

About Virginia Military Institute

Virginia Military Institute accepts 82% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,560 in Lexington, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Military Institute →

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 Virginia Military Institute

Civil Engineering ($61,547) Mechanical Engineering ($47,837) Physics ($46,641) Economics ($46,046) International Relations and National Security Studies ($44,429) Psychology, General ($44,163) Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services ($43,923) Biology, General ($43,797)

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

What does a 62/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Computer Science at Virginia Military Institute?
At 62/100, the score looks reasonable — but Computer Science is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Computer Science at Virginia Military Institute?
The 72% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Virginia Military Institute a good choice for Computer Science despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Virginia Military Institute's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →