Computer & Information Science Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Computer & Information Science major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Computers, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Computers, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$107,628

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$170,168

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$228,692

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 4.2%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$4,305,120

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Computer and Information Systems Managers
SOC: 11-3021
Occupation: Computer and Information Systems Managers
$171,200
645,970
N/A
N/A
Computer Systems Analysts
SOC: 15-1211
Occupation: Computer Systems Analysts
$103,790
497,800
N/A
N/A
Information Security Analysts
SOC: 15-1212
Occupation: Information Security Analysts
$124,910
179,430
N/A
N/A
Computer and Information Research Scientists
SOC: 15-1221
Occupation: Computer and Information Research Scientists
$140,910
38,480
N/A
N/A
Computer Network Architects
SOC: 15-1241
Occupation: Computer Network Architects
$130,390
177,010
N/A
N/A
Database Administrators
SOC: 15-1242
Occupation: Database Administrators
$104,620
73,180
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Computer and Information Systems Managers

13.3%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$171,200645,970
2023$169,510592,600
2022$164,070533,220
2021$159,010485,190
2020$151,150457,290

Computer Systems Analysts

10.7%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$103,790497,800
2023$103,800498,810
2022$102,240505,210
2021$99,270505,150
2020$93,730574,450

Information Security Analysts

20.6%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$124,910179,430
2023$120,360175,350
2022$112,000163,690
2021$102,600157,220
2020$103,590138,000

Computer and Information Research Scientists

11.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$140,91038,480
2023$145,08035,210
2022$136,62033,780
2021$131,49030,840
2020$126,83030,220

Computer Network Architects

11.7%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$130,390177,010
2023$129,840174,100
2022$126,900173,920
2021$120,520168,830
2020$116,780159,350

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

14.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$96,800318,570
2023$95,360323,020
2022$90,520325,930
2021$80,600316,760
2020$84,810339,560

Computer Occupations, All Other

17.3%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$108,970439,380
2023$104,920437,170
2022$98,740416,320
2021$95,270370,190
2020$92,870362,580

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

13.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$96,69036,240
2023$96,43036,150
2022$84,76033,870
2021$77,91037,600
2020$85,54032,230

Colleges offering Computer & Information Science

Fairfield University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$48k

Earnings

$77k

George Washington University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$46k

Earnings

$78k

Harvard University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$18k

Earnings

$105k

Shasta College

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$8k

Earnings

$75k

University of Southern California

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$42k

Earnings

$78k