Location: East Lansing, MI•In-State Tuition: $15,988•Out-of-State Tuition: $43,372•Admission Rate: 84%•Avg SAT: 1261
Median Earnings (1yr)
$86,192
95th percentile
80th percentile in Michigan
Median Debt
$24,022
4% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.28 ManageableSample: 247 graduates

Analysis

Michigan State's computer science graduates earn $86,192 in their first year—40% above the national median and significantly higher than most Michigan programs except University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. At the 80th percentile statewide, MSU sits comfortably in the top tier of Michigan tech programs, beating out respected competitors like Grand Valley State and Wayne State. The $24,022 debt load is actually lower than typical for this major, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.28—meaning graduates earn their entire debt back in roughly three months.

The comparison to U-M Ann Arbor is worth noting: those graduates earn about $27,000 more initially, but MSU's 84% admission rate makes it far more accessible while still delivering elite-level outcomes. For families weighing prestige against practical results, MSU offers 95th percentile national earnings without the admissions gauntlet. The 9% earnings growth to year four suggests stable career progression in a field known for strong mid-career trajectories.

The bottom line: MSU delivers what parents want from a computer science degree—immediate high earnings, manageable debt, and strong positioning for long-term tech careers. Unless your child can get into Ann Arbor (and even then, the $27K difference may not justify the added selectivity stress), this represents one of Michigan's best tech education values.

Where Michigan State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences bachelors's programs nationally

Michigan State UniversityOther computer and information sciences programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Michigan State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Michigan State University earns $86k — 95th percentile among computer and information sciences bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Michigan State University$86,192$94,016+9%
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$113,634$135,625+19%
Wayne State University$77,371$98,072+27%
University of Michigan-Dearborn$77,273$91,152+18%
Oakland University$66,537$87,350+31%

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

Computer and Information Sciences bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Michigan (21 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing$15,988$86,192$94,016$24,0220.28
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor$17,228$113,634$135,625$20,0000.18
Wayne State UniversityDetroit$14,297$77,371$98,072$20,6720.27
University of Michigan-DearbornDearborn$14,944$77,273$91,152$25,0000.32
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale$14,628$74,360$83,360$27,0000.36
Kalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo$58,764$72,008———
National Median—$61,322—$25,0000.41

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Network Architects

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Michigan State University, approximately 20% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 247 graduates with reported earnings and 196 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.