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Computer and Information Sciences, General at Community College of Denver

CO · Associate's Degree · CIP 11.01

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer and Information Sciences, General degree from Community College of Denver earn a median salary of $65,458 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $62,282. The degree typically pays for itself in 5.9 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 graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$48,487

Typical Career

$65,458

Top Performers

$79,787

Estimated break-even: 5.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$436

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,455. Most students can comfortably afford about a $436 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Colorado buys what costs $1.05 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 40.5%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 8.1%
Retail Trade 6.6%

Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$62,282

Nominal: $65,458 in Colorado (COL 105.1% of national avg) · 4.9% lower 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).

5.9 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 $43,240 $64,175 $81,252
5 Years After Graduation $48,487 $65,458 $79,787
10 Years After Graduation $48,487 $65,353 $99,192

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 $65,458 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CO, which has a cost-of-living index of 105.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $65,458 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0510) = $62,282 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates of the Computer and Information Sciences, General program at the Community College of Denver can expect a median earning of $64,175 one year after graduation, with a slight increase to $65,458 five years later. However, by the ten-year mark, median earnings decrease slightly to $65,353. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median five-year salary aligns with a national equivalent of $62,281.64, indicating that while initial earnings are promising, long-term financial growth may be limited, particularly when considering the cost of living in Colorado.

The majority of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, with 64.6% of them finding employment in this industry. This trend suggests a strong demand for computer and information science skills within health-related fields. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 5.9 years, indicating a reasonable return on investment for those pursuing this educational path. Overall, while the program offers solid initial earnings, graduates should weigh industry trends and long-term financial outcomes when making career decisions.

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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.