Information Science/Studies at Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University's Information Science program sits at the bottom of national outcomes for this field—landing in just the 5th percentile nationally—while curiously ranking in the middle of Oregon's two programs. With first-year earnings of $39,320 against an estimated $25,000 in debt (derived from national patterns for similar institutions), graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64, which should be manageable within two to three years if income grows steadily.

The real concern here isn't the debt load—it's competitive. At $39,320, these graduates earn about $19,000 less than the national median for information science majors, a gap that puts them closer to community college outcomes than typical bachelor's degree holders in tech-adjacent fields. Whether this reflects Western Oregon's focus on a different segment of the information science market or simply weaker employer connections in a rural location isn't clear from the data. What is clear: this program doesn't appear to open the same doors that information science degrees do elsewhere.

For a field that typically promises strong entry-level earnings, this program's outcomes suggest either pursuing information science at a different institution or reconsidering whether this particular credential aligns with career goals. The debt is reasonable, but the earnings potential—at least initially—doesn't match what most parents expect when they hear "information science degree."