Mathematics and Computer Science: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 8 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Strong payoff
+$650,258 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At this price, the reported earnings produce a wide margin over the comparison salary.
2.9 yrsModeled economic break-even
+239%Modeled 10-year ROI
$137,218Observed earnings · year 4
$185,545Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $162,565 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itObserved national outcomes
$137,218Median reported earnings · year 4
$93,003Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,175Median federal debt
99thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
5With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$85,968National median$137,21875th percentile$147,013
5 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
8 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$155,5032Santa Clara University$147,0133University of California, San Diego$137,2184University of Akron Main Campus$85,9685University of Illinois Chicago$77,3216Harvey Mudd CollegeNot available7Temple UniversityNot available8George Mason UniversityNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →37%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Computer and Information Systems Managers$175,140 median wage670,570 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3021+15.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 53.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$107,550–$297,510 10th–90th percentileNatural Sciences Managers$167,220 median wage108,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9121+8.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$79,710–$316,850 10th–90th percentileSoftware Developers$135,980 median wage1,687,890 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1252+10.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 95.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$82,460–$214,670 10th–90th percentileMathematicians$126,710 median wage2,030 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-2021+0.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$69,240–$195,190 10th–90th percentileData Scientists$120,230 median wage262,440 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-2051+34.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 24.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$67,240–$199,130 10th–90th percentileComputer Occupations, All Other$116,580 median wage435,370 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1299+5.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 27k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$55,940–$188,470 10th–90th percentileComputer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$96,980 median wage35,480 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1021+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$49,460–$170,200 10th–90th percentileMathematical Science Occupations, All Other$81,490 median wage3,720 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-2099+7.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$47,980–$154,580 10th–90th percentileMathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$79,940 median wage47,670 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1022+1.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$49,180–$139,340 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $155,503 | $23,350 | +365% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Santa Clara UniversityBachelor's Degree | Santa Clara, CA | $147,013 | $21,500 | +168% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $137,218 | $18,887 | +301% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | University of Akron Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Akron, OH | $85,968 | $24,813 | +74% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | University of Illinois ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $77,321 | $19,750 | +44% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Harvey Mudd CollegeBachelor's Degree | Claremont, CA | Not available | $23,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $35,924 |
| 7 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | Not available | $28,185 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $28,198 |
| 8 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $17,915 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.