Updated March 2026 · College Scorecard data
Is Computer Systems Analysis Worth It?
Computer Systems Analysis posts a strong national average ROI Score of 95/100 across 1 reporting schools — a Grade A profile that holds up across most cohorts in the College Scorecard data. Across the field, median debt is $23K against $95K in first-year earnings — a strong cushion — typical graduates carry less than half a year of starting salary in debt, leaving room to switch jobs or pursue graduate study without distress.
Computer Systems Analysis ROI at a Glance
posts a strong national average ROI Score of 95/100 across 1 reporting schools — a Grade A profile that holds up across most cohorts in the College Scorecard data. The graduation-weighted average across reporting institutions is the cleanest single number for the field, but it hides the spread — top programs like Austin Peay State University run far ahead of the bottom of the table. School choice within Computer Systems Analysis matters because the major-level number is a starting point, not a prediction.
Earnings rise sharply from $95K in year 1 to $147K by year 5 — 55% growth in four years. That is a strong promotion curve, common in technology, engineering, and finance tracks where early-career skill compounding pays off fast. The five-year earnings trajectory is one of the strongest signals of long-run career fit; a flat curve suggests the major leads to roles where seniority does not pay off without graduate credentials, while a steep curve indicates fast skill compounding inside the field.
Best in field: Austin Peay State University leads the field with a 95/100 ROI Score (Grade A). Median debt at completion is $23K against $95K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.24x. Worst in field: Austin Peay State University sits at the bottom of the field with a 95/100 ROI Score (Grade A). Median debt at completion is $23K against $95K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.24x.
Debt-to-Income at the Field Level
At a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24x, Computer Systems Analysis shows a strong cushion — typical graduates carry less than half a year of starting salary in debt, leaving room to switch jobs or pursue graduate study without distress. Federal financial-aid research uses the “8% rule” — monthly student loan payments under 8% of gross monthly income — which translates to debt below roughly 0.75x annual earnings on a standard 10-year plan. Programs running above 1.0x typically need income-driven repayment to stay current; above 1.5x, the math rarely works without forgiveness mechanics or an unusually steep career ramp. For borrower-rights and repayment guidance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is the most accessible federal source.
Debt vs Earnings by School
Computer Systems Analysis by School
| School | State | Median Debt | Year 1 Earnings | Year 5 Earnings | ROI Grade | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay State University | Tn | $23K | $95K | $147K | A | STRONG BUY |
How Computer Systems Analysis’s ROI Score Is Calculated
The Computer Systems Analysis ROI Score is a weighted composite of five financial-aid signals: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium over a high-school diploma (25%), 10-year BLS job-growth outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. the national average (10%). Each school + major combination is scored individually, then aggregated up to the field level. The grade thresholds (A ≥ 80, B ≥ 65, C ≥ 50, D ≥ 35, F < 35) are calibrated so a typical break-even degree lands in the C range. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Computer Systems Analysis degree worth it?
Computer Systems Analysis posts a strong national average ROI Score of 95/100 across 1 reporting schools — a Grade A profile that holds up across most cohorts in the College Scorecard data. The dominant signal is debt-to-income: at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24x on average, the field shows a strong cushion — typical graduates carry less than half a year of starting salary in debt, leaving room to switch jobs or pursue graduate study without distress. Outcomes vary sharply by institution, so the school you choose within Computer Systems Analysis usually matters more than the major label itself.
What is the average debt for a Computer Systems Analysis degree?
Median debt at completion across the 1 U.S. schools reporting Computer Systems Analysis data to the College Scorecard is $23K, against a national all-major average of $26K. The range across schools is wide — $23K at the top of the table to $23K at the bottom.
How much do Computer Systems Analysis graduates earn?
Earnings rise sharply from $95K in year 1 to $147K by year 5 — 55% growth in four years. That is a strong promotion curve, common in technology, engineering, and finance tracks where early-career skill compounding pays off fast. National average first-year earnings across all 30,224 school + major combinations on the site is $58K — for context, Computer Systems Analysis sits above that benchmark.
Which school has the best Computer Systems Analysis program by ROI?
Austin Peay State University leads the field with a 95/100 ROI Score (Grade A). Median debt at completion is $23K against $95K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.24x. On the other end, Austin Peay State University sits at the bottom of the field with a 95/100 ROI Score (Grade A). Median debt at completion is $23K against $95K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.24x.
Where does this Computer Systems Analysis data come from?
Every figure on this page comes from federal public datasets — the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov) for debt and earnings, IPEDS (nces.ed.gov/ipeds) for graduation rates, and BLS Employment Projections for the job-growth outlook component of the ROI Score. Borrower-rights guidance: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov). The dataset was last refreshed March 2026.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. All federal datasets are public domain.
Last updated 2026-03-15 · 1 schools reporting for this major.