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Computer Science at Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, UT · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
77 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
78
Optimistic
77
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $83,860/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 25.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #185 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 $869K $835K $653K
Earnings Multiple 26.2x 25.1x 19.7x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 78 77 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$33,200
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$41,768
-26% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,044
1.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $83,860/yr, edging above the $73,713 national average for Computer Science — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 25.1x 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 — 72% task exposure — and the 25% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $7,044 in median debt against $83,860 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #185 out of 345 programs, Western Governors University's financial outcomes for Computer Science trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Western Governors University

with 135,822 students enrolled in Salt Lake City, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Governors 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 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 Western Governors University

Computer Software and Media Applications ($95,292) General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations ($93,151) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($92,416) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($85,861) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($84,242) Medical Illustration and Informatics ($74,026) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($66,651) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($66,432)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Western Governors University's Computer Science program score?
A score of 77/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Western Governors University trails the majority of Computer Science programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →