ROI Major

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Colorado State University - Global Campus

CO · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 11.01

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer and Information Sciences, General degree from Colorado State University - Global Campus earn a median salary of $99,789 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $94,947. The degree typically pays for itself in 3.4 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

$73,569

Typical Career

$99,789

Top Performers

$138,145

Estimated break-even: 3.4 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$665

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $8,316. Most students can comfortably afford about a $665 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.6x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.3x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Colorado buys what costs $1.05 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 15.8%
Health Care & Social Assistance 13.2%
Public Administration 11.9%

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

$94,947

Nominal: $99,789 in Colorado (COL 105.1% of national avg) · 4.9% lower 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).

3.4 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 $56,820 $78,278 $107,436
5 Years After Graduation $73,569 $99,789 $138,145
10 Years After Graduation $87,070 $117,867 $153,601

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 $99,789 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CO, which has a cost-of-living index of 105.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $99,789 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0510) = $94,947 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates from the Computer and Information Sciences, General program at Colorado State University - Global Campus experience a significant earnings trajectory. Median earnings one year after graduation stand at $78,278, which increases to $99,789 after five years and reaches $117,867 by the ten-year mark. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equivalent nationally is approximately $94,946.72, indicating that graduates can expect competitive salaries relative to the cost of living in their respective regions.

The program prepares graduates for diverse career opportunities, with top industries including Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (15.8%), Health Care & Social Assistance (13.2%), and Public Administration (11.9%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 3.4 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for students pursuing this degree. Overall, the data indicates a strong potential for career advancement and financial stability in the field.

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

Compare with Another School

See how the Computer and Information Sciences, General degree at Colorado State University - Global Campus 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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