ROI Major

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Indiana State University

IN · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 11.01

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer and Information Sciences, General degree from Indiana State University earn a median salary of $67,343 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $74,494. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.9 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

$51,295

Typical Career

$67,343

Top Performers

$87,912

Estimated break-even: 6.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$449

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,612. Most students can comfortably afford about a $449 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Indiana buys what costs $0.90 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 21.6%
Educational Services 19.7%
Manufacturing 9.6%

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

$74,494

Nominal: $67,343 in Indiana (COL 90.4% of national avg) · 10.6% 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).

6.9 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 $34,906 $47,791 $61,370
5 Years After Graduation $51,295 $67,343 $87,912
10 Years After Graduation $60,523 $80,729 $109,014

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 $67,343 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IN, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.4% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $67,343 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9040) = $74,494 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates with a degree in Computer and Information Sciences from Indiana State University can expect a solid earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $47,791, which increases to $67,343 after five years and reaches $80,729 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns with a national equivalent of approximately $74,494.47, indicating that graduates maintain competitive earnings relative to their peers across the country.

In terms of industry placement, a significant portion of graduates find employment in Health Care & Social Assistance (21.6%), Educational Services (19.7%), and Manufacturing (9.6%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 6.9 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment over time. Overall, pursuing a degree in Computer and Information Sciences at Indiana State University appears to offer a beneficial career path with promising financial outcomes.

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 Indiana 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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