Computer Programming at Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeWorth Score (Base Case)
82
Optimistic
78
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings
$57,162/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (78% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (162,300 openings/yr)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer Programming graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $655K | $513K | $320K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 29.1x | 22.8x | 14.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 9.7x | 7.6x | 4.8x |
| Viable Career Paths | 7 of 7 | 7 of 7 | 3 of 7 |
| DegreeWorth Score | 82 | 78 | 68 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (In-State)
$22,532
Out-of-state: $67,244
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,591
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Career Paths
Where Computer Programming graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 162,300 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software developers | $133,080 | 115,200 | +15.8% | 87% |
| Software quality assurance analysts and testers | $102,610 | 14,000 | +10.0% | 88% |
| Computer programmers | $98,670 | 5,500 | -6.0% | 95% |
| Web and digital interface designers | $98,090 | 9,100 | +7.0% | 67% |
| Computer science teachers, postsecondary | $96,690 | 3,500 | +5.3% | 51% |
| Web developers | $90,930 | 5,400 | +7.5% | 93% |
| Computer network support specialists | $73,340 | 9,600 | +1.8% | 63% |
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeWorth Score for Computer Programming at Fort Hays State University?
This program scores 78/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI disruption risk, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 82 (optimistic) to 68 (pessimistic) depending on AI's impact.
How does AI affect Computer Programming career prospects?
We model three scenarios: Optimistic (no disruption), Base Case (gradual AI adoption), and Pessimistic (aggressive AI displacement). In the base case, Computer Programming graduates retain 7 of 7 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $320,297 (pessimistic) to $655,296 (optimistic).
How many job openings are there for Computer Programming graduates?
The career paths mapped to Computer Programming have roughly 162,300 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a very large job market.
Is Computer Programming at Fort Hays State University worth it?
In the Base Case, this degree earns 22.8x its in-state tuition over 10 years. Even in the Pessimistic scenario, the multiple is 14.2x. The spread between scenarios tells you how sensitive this degree is to AI disruption.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2025.