Mathematics and Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeWorth Score (Base Case)
74
Optimistic
72
Base Case
63
Pessimistic
Earnings
$126,153/yr (36% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (67% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (242,300 openings/yr)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Mathematics and Computer Science graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $1,446K | $1,200K | $801K |
| Earnings Multiple | 6.0x | 5.0x | 3.3x |
| Viable Career Paths | 9 of 9 | 9 of 9 | 6 of 9 |
| DegreeWorth Score | 74 | 72 | 63 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition
$240,624
Career Paths
Where Mathematics and Computer Science graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 242,300 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and information systems managers | $171,200 | 55,600 | +15.2% | 53% |
| Natural sciences managers | $161,180 | 8,500 | +3.7% | 50% |
| Software developers | $133,080 | 115,200 | +15.8% | 87% |
| Mathematicians | $121,680 | 100 | -0.7% | 100% |
| Data scientists | $112,590 | 23,400 | +33.5% | 64% |
| Computer occupations, all other | $108,970 | 31,300 | +8.2% | 57% |
| Computer science teachers, postsecondary | $96,690 | 3,500 | +5.3% | 51% |
| Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary | $79,350 | 4,400 | +2.3% | 54% |
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeWorth Score for Mathematics and Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
This program scores 72/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI disruption risk, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 74 (optimistic) to 63 (pessimistic) depending on AI's impact.
How does AI affect Mathematics and Computer Science career prospects?
We model three scenarios: Optimistic (no disruption), Base Case (gradual AI adoption), and Pessimistic (aggressive AI displacement). In the base case, Mathematics and Computer Science graduates retain 9 of 9 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $801,158 (pessimistic) to $1,446,203 (optimistic).
How many job openings are there for Mathematics and Computer Science graduates?
The career paths mapped to Mathematics and Computer Science have roughly 242,300 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a very large job market.
Is Mathematics and Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology worth it?
In the Base Case, this degree earns 5.0x its in-state tuition over 10 years. Even in the Pessimistic scenario, the multiple is 3.3x. 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.