Information Science/Studies at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pitt's Information Science program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—median earnings of $59,951 barely edge out the national average, but the 40th percentile ranking among Pennsylvania schools reveals the challenge. Within the state, you're paying selective-university tuition ($27,000 in debt, matching the state median) for below-median outcomes. Programs like Drexel and Albright deliver $15,000-$20,000 more in starting salary, though admittedly both charge more.

The trajectory improves over time: earnings climb 25% to nearly $75,000 by year four, outpacing many peer programs where growth stalls earlier. The debt load is reasonable at 0.45 times first-year earnings—you could pay this off in under three years with aggressive budgeting. That's better than half of similar programs nationwide. Still, paying flagship prices for middle-tier outcomes deserves scrutiny, especially when the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown delivers identical starting salaries with likely lower costs.

The bottom line: This program won't derail your child financially, but it's not the value play Pitt's reputation might suggest in information science. If they've already committed to Pitt for other reasons—campus culture, location, broader academic opportunities—the decent debt load and solid growth trajectory make it workable. But if maximizing return on a tech-adjacent degree is the priority, check what Drexel's co-op advantage or other Pennsylvania programs might offer before signing.