Computer Science Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Computer 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 Sciences, 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 Sciences, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$113,409

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$179,308

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$240,975

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 4.9%

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

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$4,536,360

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
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 Support Specialists
SOC: 15-1231
Occupation: Computer Network Support Specialists
$73,340
146,450
N/A
N/A
Database Architects
SOC: 15-1243
Occupation: Database Architects
$135,980
64,770
N/A
N/A
Computer Programmers
SOC: 15-1251
Occupation: Computer Programmers
$98,670
109,870
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 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 Support Specialists

12.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$73,340146,450
2023$71,530158,720
2022$68,050168,920
2021$62,760176,200
2020$65,450184,220

Computer Programmers

10.6%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$98,670109,870
2023$99,700120,370
2022$97,800132,740
2021$93,000152,610
2020$89,190178,140

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 Science

George Washington University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$46k

Earnings

$78k

Georgetown University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$38k

Earnings

$89k

University of Southern California

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$42k

Earnings

$78k

National University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$29k

Earnings

$67k

University of San Francisco

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$45k

Earnings

$75k