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Computer and Information Sciences, General at University of Mary Washington

VA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 11.01

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer and Information Sciences, General degree from University of Mary Washington earn a median salary of $101,719 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $99,238. The degree typically pays for itself in 3.7 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

$79,598

Typical Career

$101,719

Top Performers

$124,413

Estimated break-even: 3.7 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$678

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $8,477. Most students can comfortably afford about a $678 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 Virginia buys what costs $1.03 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 22.7%
Educational Services 20.2%
Health Care & Social Assistance 11.3%

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

$99,238

Nominal: $101,719 in Virginia (COL 102.5% of national avg) · 2.4% 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).

3.7 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 $57,838 $70,817 $83,156
5 Years After Graduation $79,598 $101,719 $124,413
10 Years After Graduation $101,595 $128,809 $161,092

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 $101,719 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in VA, which has a cost-of-living index of 102.5% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $101,719 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250) = $99,238 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 the University of Mary Washington can expect a strong earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $70,817, which increases to $101,719 five years post-graduation, and reaches $128,809 after a decade. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median earnings five years after graduation equate to approximately $99,238.05, reflecting a competitive salary relative to national standards, despite Virginia's slightly higher cost of living index at 1.025.

The top industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (22.7%), Educational Services (20.2%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (11.3%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 3.7 years, indicating a favorable return on investment for students pursuing this degree. Overall, the career prospects and financial benefits suggest that a degree in Computer and Information Sciences from the University of Mary Washington can provide a solid foundation for a successful career.

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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.