Computer Programming: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$158,509 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.
$158,509Median year-4 earnings
$22,609Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Computer Programming
How much do Computer Programming master's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $158,509 four years after completion across reportable master's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Computer Programming?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $84,866 to $158,509 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
$158,509Median reported earnings · year 4
$125,642Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
97thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
3With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 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.
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$84,866National median$158,50975th percentile$158,509
3 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.
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.
3 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Chicago$179,9642DePaul University$158,5093Maryville University of Saint Louis$84,866Observed 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 | University of ChicagoMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $179,964 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,860 |
| 2 | DePaul UniversityMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $158,509 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $30,902 |
| 3 | Maryville University of Saint LouisMaster's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $84,866 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,066 |
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.