ROI Major

Computer Science at Bemidji State University

MN · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 11.07

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer Science degree from Bemidji State University earn a median salary of $92,673 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $98,484. The degree typically pays for itself in 4.3 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

$72,585

Typical Career

$92,673

Top Performers

$106,578

Estimated break-even: 4.3 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$618

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $7,723. Most students can comfortably afford about a $618 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 Minnesota buys what costs $0.94 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 22.4%
Educational Services 19.6%
Public Administration 11.3%

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

$98,484

Nominal: $92,673 in Minnesota (COL 94.1% of national avg) · 6.3% 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).

4.3 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 $45,865 $62,446 $80,340
5 Years After Graduation $72,585 $92,673 $106,578
10 Years After Graduation $99,192 $115,698 $134,060

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 $92,673 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MN, which has a cost-of-living index of 94.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $92,673 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9410) = $98,484 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 Bemidji State University can expect a solid earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $62,446, which increases to $92,673 after five years and reaches $115,698 a decade post-graduation. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median five-year salary aligns closely with the national equivalent at approximately $98,483.53, indicating that graduates maintain competitive earnings relative to national standards despite the lower cost of living in Minnesota.

In terms of career opportunities, graduates primarily enter sectors such as Health Care & Social Assistance (22.4%), Educational Services (19.6%), and Public Administration (11.3%). The estimated break-even point for pursuing a degree versus a high-school-only path is approximately 4.3 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for students. Overall, the combination of strong earnings potential and diverse industry entry points supports a positive outlook for those considering a Computer Science degree at Bemidji State University.

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 Bemidji State 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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