Field of study · CIP 11.08
Computer Software and Media Applications
Offered at 809 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 309 | $36,210 | $42,743 | $13,250 |
| Associate | 250 | $30,498 | $42,244 | $15,699 |
| Bachelor's | 141 | $41,139 | $61,095 | $25,000 |
| Master's | 72 | $102,352 | $134,169 | — |
| Doctoral | 2 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 35 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Our read
One year after finishing, a typical certificate program in this field reports median earnings of $36,210, versus $41,139 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison Area Technical College | WI | — | $68,884 | — |
| 2 | University of Phoenix-Arizona | AZ | — | $67,888 | — |
| 3 | Northcentral Technical College | WI | — | $65,942 | — |
| 4 | Davis Technical College | UT | — | $55,105 | — |
| 5 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $50,992 | — | $14,500 |
| 6 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | MN | $48,496 | — | — |
| 7 | Dallas College | TX | — | $43,686 | — |
| 8 | Academy of Interactive Entertainment | WA | $33,701 | $42,743 | $12,000 |
| 9 | Southern Careers Institute-Austin | TX | $41,354 | — | $9,373 |
| 10 | Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio | TX | $41,354 | — | $9,373 |
| 11 | Hunter Business School | NY | $40,999 | — | $8,985 |
| 12 | Visible Music College | TN | $40,475 | — | — |
| 13 | DeVry University-Florida | FL | $36,210 | $40,253 | $18,332 |
| 14 | DeVry University-Illinois | IL | $36,210 | $40,253 | $18,332 |
| 15 | DeVry University-Ohio | OH | $36,210 | $40,253 | $18,332 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dunwoody College of Technology | MN | — | $83,293 | — |
| 2 | Madison Area Technical College | WI | $65,893 | $75,257 | $17,875 |
| 3 | Lorain County Community College | OH | — | $68,856 | — |
| 4 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | — | $64,762 | $9,181 |
| 5 | Des Moines Area Community College | IA | — | $64,569 | — |
| 6 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | WA | — | $59,364 | — |
| 7 | Portland Community College | OR | — | $58,228 | — |
| 8 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | MN | $40,210 | $57,658 | — |
| 9 | Lakeshore Technical College | WI | — | $56,646 | — |
| 10 | Academy of Art University | CA | — | $56,119 | $24,602 |
| 11 | Polk State College | FL | — | $49,293 | — |
| 12 | Texas State Technical College | TX | — | $47,893 | — |
| 13 | Hudson Valley Community College | NY | — | $47,839 | $14,898 |
| 14 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | WI | — | $46,482 | — |
| 15 | Valencia College | FL | $36,099 | $46,044 | $11,055 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $93,021 | $161,867 | — |
| 2 | University of Southern California | CA | $95,396 | $152,477 | $19,968 |
| 3 | Wellesley College | MA | $67,236 | $134,819 | $11,875 |
| 4 | Rochester Institute of Technology | NY | $67,980 | $109,552 | $25,244 |
| 5 | Florida Polytechnic University | FL | $53,850 | $103,304 | — |
| 6 | Northeastern University | MA | $99,899 | — | $19,500 |
| 7 | Northeastern University Professional Programs | MA | $99,899 | — | $19,500 |
| 8 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | MA | — | $98,913 | — |
| 9 | Western Governors University | UT | $93,757 | — | $21,786 |
| 10 | DePaul University | IL | $68,868 | $92,506 | $24,250 |
| 11 | University of California-Irvine | CA | $37,465 | $91,034 | $17,043 |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | WI | — | $87,714 | — |
| 13 | New York University | NY | — | $85,330 | $25,000 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $84,115 | — | — |
| 15 | Champlain College | VT | $65,158 | $83,383 | $35,592 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of St Thomas | MN | $105,005 | $176,066 | — |
| 2 | DePaul University | IL | $112,489 | $173,617 | — |
| 3 | George Mason University | VA | $122,523 | $172,674 | — |
| 4 | George Washington University | DC | $115,535 | $164,709 | — |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | NC | $119,860 | $159,446 | — |
| 6 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | VA | $114,566 | $149,296 | — |
| 7 | Carnegie Mellon University | PA | — | $147,793 | — |
| 8 | Lewis University | IL | $105,371 | $141,397 | — |
| 9 | Western Governors University | UT | $100,883 | $126,941 | — |
| 10 | The New School | NY | — | $120,705 | — |
| 11 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center | NY | $127,235 | $119,934 | — |
| 12 | Pace University | NY | — | $117,678 | — |
| 13 | Regis University | CO | $117,455 | — | — |
| 14 | University of Georgia | GA | $103,822 | $115,462 | — |
| 15 | Boston University | MA | $113,179 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Carolina University | NC | $85,400 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $92,749Information Science/StudiesBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $91,142Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $85,974Computer ScienceBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $108,513Computer ProgrammingBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $82,259Computer Systems Networking and TelecommunicationsBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $78,370Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, OtherBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $98,371Computer Systems AnalysisBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $79,327
Quick answers
- How much do computer software and media applications graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in computer software and media applications reports median earnings of $41,139. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
