ROI Major

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina

SC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 11.01

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer and Information Sciences, General degree from Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina earn a median salary of $112,807 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $118,495. The degree typically pays for itself in 3.9 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

$79,787

Typical Career

$112,807

Top Performers

$141,822

Estimated break-even: 3.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$752

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $9,401. Most students can comfortably afford about a $752 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.9x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.5x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in South Carolina buys what costs $0.95 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 17.3%
Public Administration 12.9%
Manufacturing 8.1%

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

$118,495

Nominal: $112,807 in South Carolina (COL 95.2% of national avg) · 5% 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).

3.9 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 $43,497 $58,197 $73,958
5 Years After Graduation $79,787 $112,807 $141,822
10 Years After Graduation $60,590 $94,869 $125,738

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 $112,807 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in SC, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.2% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $112,807 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520) = $118,495 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates in Computer and Information Sciences from Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, experience a notable earnings trajectory. One year post-graduation, median earnings stand at $58,197, which increases significantly to $112,807 after five years. However, ten years after graduation, median earnings slightly decrease to $94,869. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equates to $118,494.75 nationally, indicating that graduates maintain a competitive edge in the job market despite regional cost-of-living differences.

The top industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (17.3%), Public Administration (12.9%), and Manufacturing (8.1%), reflecting a diverse range of career opportunities. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 3.9 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for pursuing this degree. Overall, the data indicates that a degree in Computer and Information Sciences from Citadel offers a solid financial outlook and access to various industries.

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 Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina 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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