ROI Major

Management Information Systems and Services at University of Alabama in Huntsville

AL · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 52.12

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Management Information Systems and Services degree from University of Alabama in Huntsville earn a median salary of $80,415 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in AL, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $91,173. The degree typically pays for itself in 5.2 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

$59,132

Typical Career

$80,415

Top Performers

$105,799

Estimated break-even: 5.2 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$536

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,701. Most students can comfortably afford about a $536 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.0x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Alabama buys what costs $0.88 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 31.3%
Health Care & Social Assistance 23.1%
Manufacturing 13.0%

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

$91,173

Nominal: $80,415 in Alabama (COL 88.2% of national avg) · 13.4% 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).

5.2 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 $42,063 $56,327 $71,980
5 Years After Graduation $59,132 $80,415 $105,799
10 Years After Graduation $77,008 $102,529 $134,089

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 $80,415 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in AL, which has a cost-of-living index of 88.2% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $80,415 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8820) = $91,173 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 Management Information Systems and Services from the University of Alabama in Huntsville can expect a solid earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $56,327, which increases to $80,415 five years post-graduation and reaches $102,529 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equates to approximately $91,173.47 nationally, indicating that graduates maintain a competitive edge in terms of real income relative to national averages.

The top industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (31.3%), Health Care & Social Assistance (23.1%), and Manufacturing (13.0%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 5.2 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for pursuing this degree. Overall, the combination of strong earnings potential and diverse industry opportunities presents a compelling case for students considering this career path.

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

Compare with Another School

See how the Management Information Systems and Services degree at University of Alabama in Huntsville 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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