Computer Systems Analysis: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 31 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$5,714 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.
9.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
+2%Modeled 10-year ROI
$71,675Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$71,675Median reported earnings · year 4
$77,070Average reported earnings · year 5
$46,000Median federal debt
64thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
31Reporting programs
30With 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
- $59,868
- Federal debt
- $9,193
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $64,704
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,675
- Federal debt
- $46,000
- Reporting programs
- 31
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $118,836
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $116,041
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $46,213
- 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$71,675National median$71,67575th percentile$79,317
30 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Texas Christian University$121,7342University of Minnesota-Twin Cities$104,8393Lindenwood University$98,0534Northern Arizona University$97,5115California State University, San Marcos$93,0476University of Phoenix-Arizona$91,4847University of Houston$82,4168Kent State University at Kent$79,3179University of Wisconsin-River Falls$76,95110Austin Peay State University$76,824Observed 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 Network ArchitectsSOC 15-1241 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer Network Support SpecialistsSOC 15-1231 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer Systems AnalystsSOC 15-1211 · 1 crosswalk linksDatabase ArchitectsSOC 15-1243 · 1 crosswalk linksSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersSOC 15-1253 · 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 | Texas Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | $121,734 | $20,750 | +135% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $104,839 | $20,041 | +142% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Lindenwood UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Charles, MO | $98,053 | Not available | +105% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $97,511 | Not available | +122% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | California State University, San MarcosBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, CA | $93,047 | Not available | +117% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $91,484 | Not available | +99% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $82,416 | $24,990 | +58% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Kent State University at KentBachelor's Degree | Kent, OH | $79,317 | $25,000 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-River FallsBachelor's Degree | River Falls, WI | $76,951 | $23,454 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Austin Peay State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clarksville, TN | $76,824 | $24,279 | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Saginaw Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | University Center, MI | $72,888 | Not available | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | University of North DakotaBachelor's Degree | Grand Forks, ND | $72,006 | $27,000 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | DeVry College of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $71,675 | $46,000 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | DeVry University-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $71,675 | $46,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 15 | DeVry University-CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Ontario, CA | $71,675 | $46,000 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | DeVry University-FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $71,675 | $46,000 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | DeVry University-GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Decatur, GA | $71,675 | $46,000 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | DeVry University-IllinoisBachelor's Degree | Lisle, IL | $71,675 | $46,000 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | DeVry University-NevadaBachelor's Degree | Henderson, NV | $71,675 | $46,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 20 | DeVry University-New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Iselin, NJ | $71,675 | $46,000 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | DeVry University-OhioBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $71,675 | $46,000 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | DeVry University-TexasBachelor's Degree | Irving, TX | $71,675 | $46,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 23 | DeVry University-VirginiaBachelor's Degree | Arlington, VA | $71,675 | $46,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Pittsburg State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburg, KS | $71,199 | $20,500 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Marshall UniversityBachelor's Degree | Huntington, WV | Not available | $26,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $7,502 |
| 26 | University of Phoenix-CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | , | $91,484 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 27 | DeVry University-ColoradoBachelor's Degree | , | $71,675 | $46,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 28 | DeVry University-MissouriBachelor's Degree | , | $71,675 | $46,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 29 | DeVry University-North CarolinaBachelor's Degree | , | $71,675 | $46,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 30 | DeVry University-PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | , | $71,675 | $46,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 31 | DeVry University-TennesseeBachelor's Degree | , | $71,675 | $46,000 | 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.