Computer Software and Media Applications: is this graduate/professional certificate worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$104,433 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.
$104,433Median year-4 earnings
$16,836Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Computer Software and Media Applications
How much do Computer Software and Media Applications graduate/professional certificate graduates earn?
The national median is $104,433 four years after completion across reportable graduate/professional certificate 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 Software and Media Applications?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $104,433 to $104,433 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.
Observed national outcomes
$104,433Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
83thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With 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
- $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$104,433National median$104,43375th percentile$104,433
1 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.
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.
1 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Appalachian State University$104,433Observed 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.
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 | Appalachian State UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate | Boone, NC | $104,433 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,836 |
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.