Computer Programming: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 22 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$58,693 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.
$58,693Median year-4 earnings
$10,875Average institution net-price context
$14,250Median federal debt
Four useful answers about Computer Programming
How much do Computer Programming undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates earn?
The national median is $58,693 four years after completion across reportable undergraduate certificate or diploma programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $14,250. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Computer Programming?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $45,751 to $69,038 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Computer Programming?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 7 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$58,693Median reported earnings · year 4
$61,257Average reported earnings · year 5
$14,250Median federal debt
67thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
769IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
20With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 17 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,693
- Federal debt
- $14,250
- Reporting programs
- 22
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,646
- Federal debt
- $17,108
- Reporting programs
- 57
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $78,404
- Federal debt
- $31,050
- Reporting programs
- 33
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $158,509
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,638
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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$45,751National median$58,69375th percentile$69,038
20 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$87,336Observed year-4 earnings$42,751
Champlain College$35,860 price · $101,091 earningsCollege of DuPage$7,401 price · $87,336 earningsWeber State University$10,258 price · $79,340 earningsUniversity of Phoenix-Arizona$13,520 price · $71,953 earningsNorthcentral Technical College$10,303 price · $69,038 earningsPortland Community College$10,405 price · $66,990 earningsHillsborough College$3,861 price · $66,521 earningsBunker Hill Community College$7,818 price · $61,270 earningsDallas College$3,214 price · $58,181 earningsMassasoit Community College$8,460 price · $56,341 earningsFVI School of Nursing and Technology$35,514 price · $54,867 earningsNorth Idaho College$10,575 price · $53,957 earningsOzarks Technical Community College$6,936 price · $51,849 earningsAmarillo College$4,600 price · $45,751 earningsRenton Technical College$8,296 price · $42,751 earnings
$3,214Annual college-wide average net price$35,514
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
19 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Champlain College$101,0912College of DuPage$87,3363Weber State University$79,3404University of Phoenix-Arizona$71,9535Northcentral Technical College$69,0386Portland Community College$66,9907Hillsborough College$66,5218Bunker Hill Community College$61,2709Atlanta Technical College$59,20410Dallas College$58,181Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-9%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Computer Programmers$100,390 median wage92,230 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1251-7.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$57,710–$160,460 10th–90th percentileSoftware Developers$135,980 median wage1,687,890 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1252+10.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 95.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$82,460–$214,670 10th–90th percentileSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$104,300 median wage186,740 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1253+5.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$61,440–$167,010 10th–90th percentileWeb and Digital Interface Designers$104,000 median wage113,330 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1255+6.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 8.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$53,750–$201,550 10th–90th percentileComputer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$96,980 median wage35,480 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1021+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$49,460–$170,200 10th–90th percentileWeb Developers$92,650 median wage70,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1254+3.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,100–$162,290 10th–90th percentileComputer Network Support Specialists$76,220 median wage146,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1231+1.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$47,120–$127,780 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
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 | Champlain CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Burlington, VT | $101,091 | $26,437 | WithheldBaseline needed | $35,860 |
| 2 | College of DuPageUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Glen Ellyn, IL | $87,336 | $7,812 | WithheldBaseline needed | $7,401 |
| 3 | Weber State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Ogden, UT | $79,340 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $10,258 |
| 4 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Phoenix, AZ | $71,953 | $14,431 | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,520 |
| 5 | Northcentral Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Wausau, WI | $69,038 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $10,303 |
| 6 | Portland Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Portland, OR | $66,990 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $10,405 |
| 7 | Hillsborough CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Tampa, FL | $66,521 | $14,250 | WithheldBaseline needed | $3,861 |
| 8 | Bunker Hill Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Boston, MA | $61,270 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $7,818 |
| 9 | Atlanta Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Atlanta, GA | $59,204 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 10 | Dallas CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Dallas, TX | $58,181 | $19,107 | WithheldBaseline needed | $3,214 |
| 11 | Massasoit Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Brockton, MA | $56,341 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $8,460 |
| 12 | FVI School of Nursing and TechnologyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Miami, FL | $54,867 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $35,514 |
| 13 | North Idaho CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $53,957 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $10,575 |
| 14 | Ozarks Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Springfield, MO | $51,849 | $9,899 | WithheldBaseline needed | $6,936 |
| 15 | Amarillo CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Amarillo, TX | $45,751 | $11,884 | WithheldBaseline needed | $4,600 |
| 16 | Renton Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Renton, WA | $42,751 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $8,296 |
| 17 | Fort Myers Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fort Myers, FL | $27,233 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 18 | St Petersburg CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | St. Petersburg, FL | Not available | $13,274 | WithheldBaseline needed | $1,471 |
| 19 | Austin Community College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Austin, TX | Not available | $21,446 | WithheldBaseline needed | $6,390 |
| 20 | University of Phoenix-CaliforniaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $71,953 | $14,431 | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 21 | Future-Tech InstituteUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $37,690 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 22 | Omnitech InstituteUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $27,984 | $10,004 | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
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.