U.S. median for this major: $100,157.
College Scorecard field of study; 36 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 15% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,365.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $83,440. College Scorecard.
Grinnell College Computer Science: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Computer Science nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Grinnell College's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $9,970 | $41,575 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $7,789 | $32,480 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $9,669 | $40,320 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $19,348 | $80,681 | 1.1 years |
| $110k+ | $37,725 | $157,313 | 2.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (74% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Computer Science graduates 4 years after graduating ($109,892) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $73,231 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Computer Science at Iowa colleges
Every Iowa college we cover that reports Computer Science graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grinnell College | $109,892 | $16,375 | $17,648 | 88% |
| 2 | Iowa State University | $104,211 | $24,663 | $18,589 | 75% |
| 3 | Simpson College | $91,318 | $25,000 | $21,936 | 63% |
| 4 | Central College | $89,838 | — | $23,377 | 66% |
| 5 | University of Northern Iowa | $89,305 | $26,200 | $15,901 | 68% |
| 6 | Cornell College | $84,938 | — | $23,634 | 62% |
13 more Iowa colleges offer Computer Science but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Computer Science graduates
Software developer
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +10.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +15.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Data Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +34.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Grinnell College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Grinnell College
- Acceptance rate: 15% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 88% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,830
- Full cost breakdown · all 31 majors · overview
Grinnell College Computer Science questions
How much do Grinnell College Computer Science graduates earn?
Computer Science graduates of Grinnell College earn a median $109,892 four years after graduating and $84,449 one year after. The U.S. median for Computer Science graduates across 339 colleges is $100,157.
How much debt do Grinnell College Computer Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Computer Science graduates of Grinnell College is $16,375, about 15% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,365.
Is Grinnell College a good school for Computer Science in Iowa?
On pay, Computer Science graduates of Grinnell College earn $109,892 four years out, $19,314 above the median for the same major across 6 Iowa colleges ($90,578) and $9,735 above the U.S. median ($100,157). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Grinnell College rank for Computer Science in Iowa?
Of 6 Iowa colleges reporting Computer Science graduate earnings, Grinnell College ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Computer Science graduates get?
A common career is software developer, with a median wage of $114,890 in Iowa and $135,980 nationally. Others include computer and information systems managers and data scientists.
Is Grinnell College the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Grinnell College Computer Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/grinnell-college/majors/computer-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).