Location: Carbondale, IL•In-State Tuition: $13,244•Admission Rate: 90%•Avg SAT: 1060
Median Earnings (1yr)Reported
$46,254
15th percentile
25th percentile in Illinois
Median DebtReported
$29,553
18% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.64 ManageableSample: 76 graduates

Based on U.S. Department of Education data (October 2025 release).

Analysis

Starting salaries for CS graduates from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale lag significantly behind what Illinois students can earn elsewhere. At $46,254, first-year earnings fall $11,000 below the state median and $15,000 below the national average for this degree. Even Western Illinois and Illinois State—both public universities with similar admission profiles—produce graduates earning $16,000-$19,000 more annually. Within Illinois alone, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of computer science programs in the state deliver better outcomes.

The debt burden compounds the problem. While the $29,553 median debt sits near national norms, it's notably higher than Illinois' state median of $24,321. Combined with below-average earnings, graduates face a debt-to-income ratio of 0.64—manageable but concerning given that tech degrees typically offer stronger starting positions. A UIUC graduate earning $113,503 would pay off similar debt far more easily, even accounting for any additional borrowing.

For families paying in-state tuition, this represents a difficult trade-off. The 90% admission rate makes this an accessible option, but the earnings gap is substantial and immediate. If your child has the academic profile to gain admission at Illinois State or Western Illinois, those alternatives would likely provide similar accessibility with significantly better financial outcomes. If SIU-Carbondale is the choice, minimizing debt through scholarships or work-study becomes critical to offsetting the lower starting salary.

Where Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Stands

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

Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleOther computer and information sciences programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Southern Illinois University-Carbondale graduates compare to all programs nationally

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earns $46k — 15th percentile among computer and information sciences bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Computer and Information Sciences bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (30 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale$13,244$46,254—$29,5530.64
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign$16,004$113,503—$19,3990.17
Loyola University ChicagoChicago$51,716$68,950—$22,7010.33
Illinois State UniversityNormal$16,021$65,127$75,982$22,2500.34
Western Illinois UniversityMacomb$14,952$62,578$62,291$25,2500.40
Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago$51,763$61,313$77,873$24,7500.40
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

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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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, approximately 37% 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 76 graduates with reported earnings and 72 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.