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GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 1101

Computer and Information Sciences, General: is this graduate/professional certificate worth it?

National picture across 2 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$105,731 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$105,731Median year-4 earnings

$27,264Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$105,731Median reported earnings · year 4

$81,561Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

84thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

2Reporting programs

2With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

OPEN PROFILE

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings: $51,790
Federal debt: $10,938
Reporting programs: 53

45 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $54,238
Federal debt: $14,440
Reporting programs: 142

130 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $84,860
Federal debt: $25,000
Reporting programs: 489

470 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $125,902
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 78

78 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $158,849
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $105,731
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $87,038
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 3

3 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median

25th percentile$93,919National median$105,73175th percentile$93,919

2 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Regis University$117,542 2University of Denver$93,919

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Computer and Information Research ScientistsSOC 15-1221 · 5 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 3 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 3 crosswalk linksSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersSOC 15-1253 · 3 crosswalk linksWeb and Digital Interface DesignersSOC 15-1255 · 3 crosswalk linksComputer Network ArchitectsSOC 15-1241 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Systems AnalystsSOC 15-1211 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 · 2 crosswalk linksData ScientistsSOC 15-2051 · 2 crosswalk linksDatabase ArchitectsSOC 15-1243 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Occupations, All OtherSOC 15-1299 · 1 crosswalk linksDatabase AdministratorsSOC 15-1242 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES, GENERAL

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	Regis UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate	Denver, CO	$117,542	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,397
2	University of DenverGraduate/Professional Certificate	Denver, CO	$93,919	Not available	Baseline needed	$36,131

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.