Computer Programming: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 33 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$62,370 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
8.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
+23%Modeled 10-year ROI
$78,404Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$78,404Median reported earnings · year 4
$83,390Average reported earnings · year 5
$31,050Median federal debt
72thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
33Reporting programs
32With year-4 earnings
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
- $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$73,380National median$78,40475th percentile$90,435
32 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1DigiPen Institute of Technology$137,5032New England Institute of Technology$114,9633Rochester Institute of Technology$113,5594Elon University$111,4485North Seattle College$106,6396University of Michigan-Dearborn$106,4847DePaul University$101,3158Green River College$92,3759Bellevue University$90,43510University of Akron Main Campus$86,965Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Computer ProgrammersSOC 15-1251 · 6 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 5 crosswalk linksSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersSOC 15-1253 · 5 crosswalk linksComputer Network Support SpecialistsSOC 15-1231 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksWeb DevelopersSOC 15-1254 · 1 crosswalk linksWeb and Digital Interface DesignersSOC 15-1255 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DigiPen Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Redmond, WA | $137,503 | $27,000 | +159% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | New England Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $114,963 | $38,133 | +115% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $113,559 | $27,000 | +114% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $111,448 | $19,500 | +92% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | North Seattle CollegeBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $106,639 | $19,504 | +176% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | University of Michigan-DearbornBachelor's Degree | Dearborn, MI | $106,484 | $19,723 | +182% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $101,315 | $25,497 | +85% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Green River CollegeBachelor's Degree | Auburn, WA | $92,375 | Not available | +101% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Bellevue UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellevue, NE | $90,435 | $26,108 | +82% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of Akron Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Akron, OH | $86,965 | $25,791 | +78% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Southwestern CollegeBachelor's Degree | Winfield, KS | $83,746 | $6,500 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Full Sail UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $83,694 | $37,372 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Herzing University-BirminghamBachelor's Degree | Birmingham, AL | $78,404 | $31,050 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Herzing University-AtlantaBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $78,404 | $31,050 | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Herzing University-MinneapolisBachelor's Degree | St. Louis Park, MN | $78,404 | $31,050 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Herzing University-AkronBachelor's Degree | Akron, OH | $78,404 | $31,050 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Herzing University-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $78,404 | $31,050 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Herzing University-OrlandoBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $78,404 | $31,050 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Herzing University-New OrleansBachelor's Degree | Metairie, LA | $78,404 | $31,050 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | Herzing University-KenoshaBachelor's Degree | Kenosha, WI | $78,404 | $31,050 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | Herzing University-BrookfieldBachelor's Degree | Brookfield, WI | $78,404 | $31,050 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $76,918 | $49,211 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Fort Hays State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hays, KS | $73,380 | $28,000 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | University of Advancing TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $72,462 | $30,562 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Farmingdale State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Farmingdale, NY | $71,665 | $21,500 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $67,437 | $25,214 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Tulane University of LouisianaBachelor's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $67,047 | $38,293 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | ECPI UniversityBachelor's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $62,392 | $38,078 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Rowan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Glassboro, NJ | $60,493 | $25,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Wilmington UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Castle, DE | $45,832 | Not available | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Grand Canyon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | Not available | $26,702 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $22,472 |
| 32 | University of Phoenix-CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | , | $76,918 | $49,211 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 33 | University of Phoenix-TexasBachelor's Degree | , | $76,918 | $49,211 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | 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.