ROI Major

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Texas Tech University

TX · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 11.01

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer and Information Sciences, General degree from Texas Tech University earn a median salary of $100,522 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in TX, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $109,144. The degree typically pays for itself in 3.6 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

$78,923

Typical Career

$100,522

Top Performers

$125,625

Estimated break-even: 3.6 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$670

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $8,377. Most students can comfortably afford about a $670 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.6x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.3x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Texas buys what costs $0.92 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 19.4%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 15.4%
Health Care & Social Assistance 10.1%

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

$109,144

Nominal: $100,522 in Texas (COL 92.1% of national avg) · 8.6% 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).

3.6 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 $54,424 $73,138 $89,667
5 Years After Graduation $78,923 $100,522 $125,625
10 Years After Graduation $96,661 $127,297 $169,393

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 $100,522 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in TX, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $100,522 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9210) = $109,144 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 Texas Tech University experience a significant earnings trajectory. One year post-graduation, median earnings stand at $73,138, which increases to $100,522 after five years and reaches $127,297 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equates to $109,144.41 nationally, indicating that graduates can expect competitive salaries relative to their peers across the country, despite Texas having a lower cost of living index.

The program prepares students for diverse career opportunities, with notable entry into sectors such as Educational Services (19.4%), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (15.4%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (10.1%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 3.6 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in this field is favorable. Overall, students can expect a solid financial payoff and a range of career options upon graduation.

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 Texas Tech University 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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