Information Science/Studies: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Information Science/Studies graduates earn a median $85,294 four years after finishing — $36,934/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 1.8 years. Federal data pools 263 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 9,369 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Information Science/Studies ranks #36 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 83% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University | IL | $163,740 |
| 2 | Boston College | MA | $131,090 |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $130,798 |
| 4 | Stevenson University | MD | $113,367 |
| 5 | James Madison University | VA | $113,345 |
| 6 | Utah Valley University | UT | $112,128 |
| 7 | University of Maryland-College Park | MD | $109,092 |
| 8 | Albright College | PA | $108,846 |
| 9 | Clemson University | SC | $105,646 |
| 10 | George Washington University | DC | $105,145 |
| 11 | University of Utah | UT | $105,127 |
| 12 | Syracuse University | NY | $104,842 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Information Science/Studies pay grow after graduation?
From $71,167 one year out to $85,294 four years out — a $14,127 climb, or 20% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Information Science/Studies each year?
About 9,369 bachelor's graduates a year across 263 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.