ROI Major

Computer Science at Aurora University

IL · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 11.07

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer Science degree from Aurora University earn a median salary of $93,965 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IL, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $102,358. The degree typically pays for itself in 4.5 years.

Quick Insights

Solid Investment

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$73,014

Typical Career

$93,965

Top Performers

$109,770

Estimated break-even: 4.5 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$626

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $7,830. Most students can comfortably afford about a $626 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.2x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Illinois buys what costs $0.92 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Finance & Insurance.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 31.1%
Educational Services 18.8%
Finance & Insurance 6.4%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$102,358

Nominal: $93,965 in Illinois (COL 91.8% of national avg) · 8.9% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

4.5 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $43,916 $56,642 $70,763
5 Years After Graduation $73,014 $93,965 $109,770
10 Years After Graduation $47,574 $79,787 $122,926

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $93,965 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IL, which has a cost-of-living index of 91.8% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $93,965 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9180) = $102,358 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates from the Computer Science program at Aurora University experience a notable earnings trajectory. Median earnings one year after graduation stand at $56,642, which increases to $93,965 five years post-graduation. However, by the ten-year mark, median earnings adjust to $79,787. When considering purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns with a national equivalent of $102,358.39, indicating a favorable financial outlook relative to the cost of living in Illinois, where the cost of living index is 0.918 compared to the national average.

The top industries for Aurora University Computer Science graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (31.1%), Educational Services (18.8%), and Finance & Insurance (6.4%). This diverse range of sectors suggests that graduates possess versatile skills applicable in various fields. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 4.5 years, indicating a reasonable return on investment for students pursuing this degree. Overall, the program offers a solid foundation for career advancement and financial stability.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Computer Science degree at Aurora University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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