Information Science/Studies at University of California-Riverside

UC Riverside's Information Science program launches graduates into $76,000 first-year salaries—a figure that outpaces the national median by nearly $18,000 and lands in the 95th percentile nationally. For a public university with a 63% admission rate serving many first-generation students, these outcomes are impressive. The debt load of $24,417 translates to a highly manageable 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than four months of their first-year salary.

The California context tells a more nuanced story. While UCR dominates national comparisons, it sits at the 60th percentile among the state's 11 Information Science programs, where the median starting salary is already strong at $63,000. Still, UCR graduates earn $13,000 more than their counterparts at Cal State Fullerton and carry slightly higher debt than the state median of $19,877—a tradeoff that appears worthwhile given the earnings premium.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly from these medians. However, the fundamental economics look sound. For families weighing a UC education against alternatives, this program demonstrates that information science skills translate reliably to strong early-career earnings, even if it's not the absolute top performer within California's competitive landscape.