Computer Software and Media Applications: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 72 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$214,641 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.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
42.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−76%Modeled 10-year ROI
$51,596Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Four useful answers about Computer Software and Media Applications
How much do Computer Software and Media Applications bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $51,596 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $27,000. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Computer Software and Media Applications?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $47,440 to $69,981 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Computer Software and Media Applications?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 12 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$114,040
$8,000Annual price−$146,040
$16,000Annual price−$178,040
$24,000Annual price−$210,040
$25,000Current college-wide context−$214,040
$32,000Annual price−$242,040
$40,000Annual price−$274,040
Observed national outcomes
$51,596Median reported earnings · year 4
$58,379Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
26thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
26IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
67With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 7 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
- $40,090
- Federal debt
- $11,606
- Reporting programs
- 21
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,361
- Federal debt
- $17,937
- Reporting programs
- 46
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,596
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 72
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $82,592
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $119,840
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 26
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $104,433
- 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$47,440National median$51,59675th percentile$69,981
67 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.
$115,839Observed year-4 earnings$40,186
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$13,138 price · $162,114 earningsWestern Governors University$12,548 price · $131,198 earningsDigiPen Institute of Technology$44,446 price · $122,375 earningsUniversity of Southern California$32,740 price · $115,839 earningsWellesley College$25,496 price · $98,816 earningsPark University$21,032 price · $98,256 earningsDePaul University$30,902 price · $96,616 earningsWorcester Polytechnic Institute$43,071 price · $95,430 earningsFlorida Polytechnic University$11,853 price · $92,070 earningsRochester Institute of Technology$34,906 price · $88,096 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point$14,559 price · $84,809 earningsUniversity of Phoenix-Arizona$13,520 price · $81,636 earningsThe New School$58,741 price · $75,792 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Stout$17,490 price · $74,146 earningsAcademy of Art University$40,613 price · $73,398 earningsUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus$14,091 price · $71,462 earningsUniversity of Washington-Bothell Campus$12,319 price · $71,462 earningsUniversity of California, Irvine$14,251 price · $69,981 earningsChamplain College$35,860 price · $67,795 earningsUniversity of Silicon Valley$27,815 price · $67,659 earningsSchool of Visual Arts$57,914 price · $67,483 earningsFull Sail University$38,875 price · $66,676 earningsBrigham Young University-Idaho$8,221 price · $65,397 earningsUniversity of Arizona$16,674 price · $61,892 earningsUtah Valley University$6,376 price · $61,451 earningsNew England Institute of Technology$36,483 price · $60,524 earningsDuquesne University$37,730 price · $60,310 earningsTexas A&M University-College Station$21,315 price · $59,769 earningsPurdue University-Main Campus$14,600 price · $59,766 earningsBaker College$13,157 price · $58,655 earningsSouthern New Hampshire University$36,708 price · $57,772 earningsCollege of Charleston$18,960 price · $52,596 earningsPennsylvania College of Technology$25,110 price · $51,764 earningsUniversity of Houston$14,276 price · $51,596 earningsWilmington University$15,644 price · $50,722 earningsJohnson & Wales University-Providence$31,027 price · $50,374 earningsJohnson & Wales University-Online$20,252 price · $50,374 earningsNorthwest Missouri State University$16,244 price · $48,729 earningsRocky Mountain College of Art and Design$32,363 price · $48,472 earningsDeVry University-California$33,744 price · $47,440 earningsDeVry University-Florida$29,477 price · $47,440 earningsDeVry University-Georgia$28,229 price · $47,440 earningsDeVry University-Illinois$30,770 price · $47,440 earningsDeVry University-New Jersey$26,565 price · $47,440 earningsDeVry University-Ohio$25,001 price · $47,440 earningsDeVry University-Virginia$36,609 price · $47,440 earningsUniversity of Dubuque$23,386 price · $46,296 earningsEastern Washington University$13,886 price · $46,104 earningsLindenwood University$19,638 price · $45,810 earningsDakota State University$21,057 price · $42,513 earningsBerklee College of Music$49,465 price · $40,186 earningsPurdue University Northwest$6,079 price · $29,630 earningsAtlantic University$6,425 price · $21,309 earnings
$6,425Annual college-wide average net price$44,446
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.
59 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$162,1142Western Governors University$131,1983DigiPen Institute of Technology$122,3754University of Southern California$115,8395Wellesley College$98,8166Park University$98,2567DePaul University$96,6168Worcester Polytechnic Institute$95,4309Florida Polytechnic University$92,07010Rochester Institute of Technology$88,096Observed 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 →37%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$63,820 median wage114,110 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1194-0.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$41,960–$108,620 10th–90th percentileData Scientists$120,230 median wage262,440 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-2051+34.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 24.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$67,240–$199,130 10th–90th percentileSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$102,030 median wage19,970 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1014-0.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$58,600–$177,110 10th–90th percentileComputer 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 percentileGraphic Designers$62,960 median wage197,830 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1024-1.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 16k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$39,520–$104,910 10th–90th percentileComputer and Information Systems Managers$175,140 median wage670,570 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3021+15.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 53.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$107,550–$297,510 10th–90th percentileComputer and Information Research Scientists$140,300 median wage37,200 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1221+21.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$82,200–$230,630 10th–90th percentileDatabase Architects$139,500 median wage67,140 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1243+9.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$86,240–$204,000 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 percentileDatabase Administrators$104,620 median wage69,990 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1242-0.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$60,230–$163,320 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 percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
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 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $162,114 | $19,769 | +404% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Western Governors UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $131,198 | $23,287 | +274% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | DigiPen Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Redmond, WA | $122,375 | $27,000 | +116% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $115,839 | $23,500 | +128% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Wellesley CollegeBachelor's Degree | Wellesley, MA | $98,816 | Not available | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Park UniversityBachelor's Degree | Parkville, MO | $98,256 | $19,812 | +102% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $96,616 | $23,249 | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $95,430 | $24,656 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Florida Polytechnic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lakeland, FL | $92,070 | $7,500 | +107% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $88,096 | $27,000 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointBachelor's Degree | Stevens Point, WI | $84,809 | $24,940 | +67% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $81,636 | $44,225 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | The New SchoolBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $75,792 | $25,489 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $74,146 | $27,000 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Academy of Art UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $73,398 | $39,715 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $71,462 | $14,500 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $71,462 | $14,500 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $69,981 | $21,650 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Champlain CollegeBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $67,795 | $27,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of Silicon ValleyBachelor's Degree | San Jose, CA | $67,659 | $31,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | School of Visual ArtsBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $67,483 | $27,000 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Full Sail UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $66,676 | Not available | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Brigham Young University-IdahoBachelor's Degree | Rexburg, ID | $65,397 | $9,532 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $61,892 | $22,715 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $61,451 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | New England Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $60,524 | $33,000 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Duquesne UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,310 | $27,000 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $59,769 | $20,937 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $59,766 | $21,250 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Baker CollegeBachelor's Degree | Owosso, MI | $58,655 | $49,189 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $57,772 | $28,252 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | College of CharlestonBachelor's Degree | Charleston, SC | $52,596 | $22,750 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $51,764 | $28,360 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $51,596 | $23,959 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Wilmington UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Castle, DE | $50,722 | $22,000 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $50,374 | $27,000 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Johnson & Wales University-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $50,374 | $27,000 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Maryville, MO | $48,729 | $23,250 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Lakewood, CO | $48,472 | $44,806 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | DeVry University-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 41 | DeVry University-CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Ontario, CA | $47,440 | $48,849 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | DeVry University-FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $47,440 | $48,849 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | DeVry University-GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Decatur, GA | $47,440 | $48,849 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | DeVry University-IllinoisBachelor's Degree | Lisle, IL | $47,440 | $48,849 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | DeVry University-New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Iselin, NJ | $47,440 | $48,849 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | DeVry University-OhioBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $47,440 | $48,849 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | DeVry University-TexasBachelor's Degree | Irving, TX | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 48 | DeVry University-VirginiaBachelor's Degree | Arlington, VA | $47,440 | $48,849 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of DubuqueBachelor's Degree | Dubuque, IA | $46,296 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Eastern Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cheney, WA | $46,104 | $23,250 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Lindenwood UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Charles, MO | $45,810 | $25,717 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Dakota State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Madison, SD | $42,513 | $27,000 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Berklee College of MusicBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $40,186 | $27,000 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Purdue University NorthwestBachelor's Degree | Hammond, IN | $29,630 | $17,750 | -175% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Guaynabo, PR | $21,309 | $5,131 | -215% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | University of Colorado Colorado SpringsBachelor's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | Not available | $26,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,788 |
| 57 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | Not available | $22,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $37,050 |
| 58 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | Not available | $20,810 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $32,875 |
| 59 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | Not available | $23,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,200 |
| 60 | DeVry University-ColoradoBachelor's Degree | , | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 61 | DeVry University-MissouriBachelor's Degree | , | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 62 | DeVry University-PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | , | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 63 | DeVry University-TennesseeBachelor's Degree | , | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 64 | The Art Institute of HoustonBachelor's Degree | , | $45,716 | $40,667 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 65 | The Art Institute of AustinBachelor's Degree | , | $45,716 | $40,667 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 66 | The Art Institute of San AntonioBachelor's Degree | , | $45,716 | $40,667 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 67 | AI Miami International University of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | , | $44,268 | $38,081 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 68 | Miami International University of Art & Design-Art Institute DallasBachelor's Degree | , | $44,268 | $38,081 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 69 | Medaille UniversityBachelor's Degree | , | $38,594 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 70 | The Art Institute of AtlantaBachelor's Degree | , | $36,146 | $43,092 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 71 | The Art Institute of Virginia BeachBachelor's Degree | , | $36,146 | $43,092 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 72 | Living Arts CollegeBachelor's Degree | , | Not available | $30,417 | 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.