Information Science

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$61,851

Median Earnings

$82,883

Schools Offering

195

ROI Grade

B+

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $71,672Median: $82,88375th: $91,671

Best Schools for Information Science by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	Harvard University MA · Private	96	$230,876	$19,066	N/A	-
2	Northwestern University IL · Private	94	$163,740	$29,167	$12,000	A
3	Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private	97	$156,743	$31,944	$21,375	A
4	Duke University NC · Private	96	$152,782	$29,612	$13,500	A
5	University of California-Berkeley CA · Public	97	$133,986	$13,481	$16,165	A
6	Boston College MA · Private	92	$131,090	$41,704	$17,500	A
7	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$130,798	$13,138	$20,875	A
8	University of Chicago IL · Private	98	$130,189	$14,860	N/A	-
9	University of Iowa IA · Public	76	$123,676	$22,531	$20,411	B+
10	Northwestern University IL · Private	94	$122,682	$29,167	$14,000	A
11	Stevenson University MD · Private	60	$113,367	$26,505	N/A	-
12	James Madison University VA · Public	84	$113,345	$23,322	$21,025	B+
13	Cornell University NY · Private	96	$111,090	$28,690	N/A	-
14	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$109,466	$13,138	$23,250	B
15	University of Maryland-College Park MD · Public	94	$109,092	$15,678	$20,180	B+
16	University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public	96	$109,017	$12,548	$17,005	B+
17	Albright College PA · Private	56	$108,846	$20,024	$36,196	C+
18	University of Virginia-Main Campus VA · Public	95	$108,532	$21,565	$18,500	B+
19	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public	93	$105,978	$14,355	$19,394	B+
20	Clemson University SC · Public	86	$105,646	$22,253	$25,964	B+
21	George Washington University DC · Private	88	$105,145	$36,586	N/A	-
22	University of Utah UT · Public	84	$105,127	$16,200	$24,041	B+
23	Syracuse University NY · Private	76	$104,842	$38,793	$26,694	B
24	Purdue University-Main Campus IN · Public	91	$104,047	$14,600	$19,500	B+
25	New Jersey Institute of Technology NJ · Public	92	$103,918	$16,504	$25,000	B
26	Colorado State University-Fort Collins CO · Public	69	$102,765	$21,279	$25,000	B
27	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public	96	$101,353	$16,665	$17,939	A
28	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC · Public	94	$100,940	$11,655	$13,294	A
29	George Washington University DC · Private	88	$100,578	$36,586	N/A	-
30	University of Maryland Global Campus MD · Public	63	$100,208	$22,063	$20,806	B+
31	Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public	89	$100,166	$21,315	N/A	-
32	University of Wisconsin-Madison WI · Public	91	$99,210	$17,354	$26,000	B
33	Drexel University PA · Private	82	$98,548	$38,509	$29,125	B
34	University of Florida FL · Public	92	$98,409	$6,541	$14,783	A
35	Wentworth Institute of Technology MA · Private	82	$98,270	$34,170	$26,417	B
36	University of California-San Diego CA · Public	96	$96,746	$12,470	$19,237	C+
37	Brigham Young University UT · Private	94	$96,164	$15,564	$10,750	A
38	University of Maryland-Baltimore County MD · Public	84	$95,435	$16,467	$20,633	B+
39	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public	89	$94,300	$24,953	$15,500	A
40	Michigan State University MI · Public	79	$93,930	$19,680	$25,625	B
41	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus OH · Public	55	$93,694	$25,648	$23,000	B+
42	Emory University GA · Private	92	$93,446	$22,585	$20,983	B+
43	College of Charleston SC · Public	57	$93,285	$18,960	$22,591	B
44	Quinnipiac University CT · Private	79	$93,037	$40,675	N/A	-
45	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington PA · Public	64	$91,671	$18,305	$26,000	B
46	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre PA · Public	65	$91,671	$16,448	$26,000	B
47	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton PA · Public	66	$91,671	$17,910	$26,000	B
48	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley PA · Public	63	$91,671	$18,220	$26,000	B
49	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver PA · Public	64	$91,671	$17,418	$26,000	B
50	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks PA · Public	58	$91,671	$24,356	$26,000	B

School-by-school analysis: Information Science

Editorial breakdowns of how information science graduates fare at the top-earning programs in our dataset.

Harvard University(Statistics program)

MA · Private · $230,876 4yr earnings

Statistics (52 graduates) earns $141,116 at year one and $230,876 at year four -- the highest four-year figure in the Scorecard dataset for any program in this cohort. Debt and debt-to-earnings data are not available for this program. The trajectory reflects placement into quantitative finance (hedge funds, proprietary trading), data science at major technology companies, and actuarial and analytics roles. The four-year figure of $230k is driven by equity compensation and firm-level upside in finance and tech, where statistical training from Harvard carries a meaningful hiring signal.

Northwestern University

IL · Private · $163,740 4yr earnings · $12,000 median debt

88 graduates with 1-year earnings of $102,998 and 4-year earnings of $163,740 -- the top-earning program at Northwestern. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.117 (grade: A) reflects unusually low debt relative to earnings. Information science graduates move into data analytics, product management, and systems architecture roles. Chicago's financial technology sector, healthcare analytics companies, and the city's growing tech scene absorb these graduates. The program benefits from Northwestern's Kellogg-adjacent business curriculum, which adds business fluency that pure computer science programs often lack.

Carnegie Mellon University(Statistics program)

PA · Private · $156,743 4yr earnings · $21,375 median debt

Statistics (172 graduates) earns $93,111 at year one and $156,743 at four years, ROI grade A with a 0.230 debt-to-earnings ratio. Statistics at CMU benefits from the school's methodological culture -- graduates who can apply statistical methods to data science, quantitative finance, and research roles are in sustained national demand. The four-year earnings trajectory ($156,743) reflects movement into senior data science and quantitative roles. This is one of the cleaner ROI programs in the school, combining high volume (172 graduates is a real sample size) with consistently strong outcomes.

University of California-Berkeley(Statistics program)

CA · Public · $133,986 4yr earnings · $16,165 median debt

Statistics at Berkeley (122 graduates, $83,227 at year one, $133,986 at four years, ROI grade A, DTE 0.194) reflects the growing demand for quantitative analysts in technology, finance, and data science. Berkeley's statistics department is one of the most cited in the world academically, and the undergraduate program feeds into data science, machine learning, and quantitative finance roles. Year-one earnings of $83k from a statistics degree at a California in-state net price of ~$13k represent an exceptional ratio.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor(Computer and Information Sciences program)

MI · Public · $172,904 4yr earnings · $20,000 median debt

Michigan CIS is one of the largest high-earning programs in the country by volume: 1,215 graduates, $113,634 at year one, $172,904 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.176 (ROI grade A) and $20,000 median debt show exceptional efficiency -- graduates are earning nearly six times their annual debt service in the first year alone. Michigan CS graduates enter the full spectrum of technology roles: major tech companies, automotive software (especially relevant given Michigan's Detroit connections), and financial technology firms. In-state students paying $17,736 tuition for a degree leading to $113,000 year-one earnings are making one of the best financial decisions available in American higher education.

University of Iowa(Statistics program)

IA · Public · $123,676 4yr earnings · $20,411 median debt

Statistics (22 graduates) is one of Iowa's hidden gems: $75,095 year-one and $123,676 year-four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.272 (ROI grade B+). The four-year trajectory to $123k is exceptional for a public university program. Statistics graduates enter data science, actuarial, biostatistics, and quantitative finance roles. Low graduate volume limits statistical reliability, but the outcomes signal is strong.

Northwestern University

IL · Private · $163,740 4yr earnings · $12,000 median debt

Strong Value

Is Information Science Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

Information Science delivers above-average financial returns. Average earnings of $61,851 four years out put graduates in a strong position to handle student debt and build wealth. The ROI is solid, though school choice and specialization within the field matter.

195 schools offer this major, giving you reasonable options. Compare net prices and graduate earnings at your specific target schools - the range between the best and worst ROI within this field is substantial.

The top school for this major by earnings is Harvard University, where graduates earn $141,116 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Information Science All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

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Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.