ROI Major

Information Science/Studies at University of Richmond

VA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 11.04

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Information Science/Studies degree from University of Richmond earn a median salary of $116,662 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $113,817. The degree typically pays for itself in 2.6 years.

Quick Insights

Financial Home Run

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

$72,095

Typical Career

$116,662

Top Performers

$149,265

Estimated to break even in under 3 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$778

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $9,722. Most students can comfortably afford about a $778 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 3.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.5x 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, Finance & Insurance, Educational Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 26.5%
Finance & Insurance 14.1%
Educational Services 13.8%

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

$113,817

Nominal: $116,662 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).

2.6 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 $65,265 $93,589 $127,455
5 Years After Graduation $72,095 $116,662 $149,265
10 Years After Graduation $79,787 $117,867 $157,057

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 $116,662 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)
= $116,662 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250) = $113,817 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates with a degree in Information Science/Studies from the University of Richmond experience a promising earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $93,589, which increases to $116,662 five years post-graduation and slightly rises to $117,867 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns closely with the national equivalent at approximately $113,816.59, indicating that graduates maintain a competitive financial standing despite the cost of living in Virginia, which is slightly above the national average.

The top industries for graduates reveal a diverse range of opportunities, with 26.5% entering Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, followed by 14.1% in Finance & Insurance, and 13.8% in Educational Services. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 2.6 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for pursuing this degree. Overall, the combination of strong earnings potential and diverse career paths underscores the value of an Information Science/Studies degree from this institution.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Information Science/Studies degree at University of Richmond 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.

Explore More