ROI Major

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Southern Oregon University

OR · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 11.01

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer and Information Sciences, General degree from Southern Oregon University earn a median salary of $71,863 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OR, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $62,872. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.1 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

$54,881

Typical Career

$71,863

Top Performers

$96,294

Estimated break-even: 6.1 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$479

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,989. Most students can comfortably afford about a $479 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.9x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Oregon buys what costs $1.14 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 19.1%
Health Care & Social Assistance 18.0%
Public Administration 10.1%

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

$62,872

Nominal: $71,863 in Oregon (COL 114.3% of national avg) · 12.5% 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).

6.1 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 $37,794 $51,092 $67,522
5 Years After Graduation $54,881 $71,863 $96,294
10 Years After Graduation $64,235 $89,880 $123,720

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 $71,863 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OR, which has a cost-of-living index of 114.3% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $71,863 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1430) = $62,872 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates from the Computer and Information Sciences program at Southern Oregon University can expect a positive earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $51,092, increasing to $71,863 five years post-graduation, and reaching $89,880 after ten years. When considering the purchasing power-adjusted salary for the five-year mark, the national equivalent is approximately $62,872.27, reflecting the impact of the cost of living in Oregon, which has a COL index of 1.143 compared to the national average of 1.0.

The program's graduates primarily enter industries such as Educational Services (19.1%), Health Care & Social Assistance (18.0%), and Public Administration (10.1%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 6.1 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing this degree appears favorable. Overall, the career prospects and financial benefits suggest that a degree in Computer and Information Sciences from Southern Oregon University can be a worthwhile endeavor for students.

Compare with Another School

See how the Computer and Information Sciences, General degree at Southern Oregon University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Ready to apply?

Start your application for Computer and Information Sciences, General at Southern Oregon University.

Apply to Southern Oregon University

Explore More

Other Degrees at Southern Oregon University

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.