Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 49 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$35,064 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.
8.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
+14%Modeled 10-year ROI
$73,884Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$73,884Median reported earnings · year 4
$73,724Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
67thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
49Reporting programs
48With 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
- $49,524
- Federal debt
- $11,588
- Reporting programs
- 30
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,935
- Federal debt
- $21,874
- Reporting programs
- 103
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,884
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 49
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $92,609
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 13
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $91,271
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 10
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,763
- 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$72,483National median$73,88475th percentile$77,401
48 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Wentworth Institute of Technology$111,4132University of Minnesota-Twin Cities$100,5543Weber State University$97,9574Utah Valley University$97,3415Rochester Institute of Technology$97,1186DePaul University$91,0077Illinois State University$90,9538Johnson & Wales University-Providence$85,3879Park University$83,57910Stevenson University$81,700Observed 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 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Network Support SpecialistsSOC 15-1231 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer ProgrammersSOC 15-1251 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer Systems AnalystsSOC 15-1211 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Research ScientistsSOC 15-1221 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 · 1 crosswalk linksDatabase ArchitectsSOC 15-1243 · 1 crosswalk linksInformation Security AnalystsSOC 15-1212 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 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 | Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $111,413 | $27,000 | +110% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $100,554 | $20,500 | +125% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Weber State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ogden, UT | $97,957 | Not available | +140% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $97,341 | $21,000 | +155% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $97,118 | $31,000 | +63% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $91,007 | $24,750 | +52% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $90,953 | Not available | +78% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $85,387 | Not available | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Park UniversityBachelor's Degree | Parkville, MO | $83,579 | $15,000 | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Stevenson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Owings Mills, MD | $81,700 | $27,000 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | University of Minnesota-DuluthBachelor's Degree | Duluth, MN | $79,939 | $26,125 | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $78,464 | $39,645 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusBachelor's Degree | Saint Clairsville, OH | $77,401 | $19,500 | +66% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusBachelor's Degree | Chillicothe, OH | $77,401 | $19,500 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Ohio University-Southern CampusBachelor's Degree | Ironton, OH | $77,401 | $19,500 | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Ohio University-Lancaster CampusBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, OH | $77,401 | $19,500 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Ohio University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Athens, OH | $77,401 | $19,500 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusBachelor's Degree | Zanesville, OH | $77,401 | $19,500 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $77,269 | $27,000 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | University of Akron Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Akron, OH | $74,385 | $26,879 | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | DeVry College of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $73,884 | $48,014 | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | DeVry University-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $73,884 | $48,014 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 23 | DeVry University-CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Ontario, CA | $73,884 | $48,014 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | DeVry University-FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $73,884 | $48,014 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | DeVry University-GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Decatur, GA | $73,884 | $48,014 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | DeVry University-IllinoisBachelor's Degree | Lisle, IL | $73,884 | $48,014 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | DeVry University-NevadaBachelor's Degree | Henderson, NV | $73,884 | $48,014 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 28 | DeVry University-New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Iselin, NJ | $73,884 | $48,014 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | DeVry University-OhioBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $73,884 | $48,014 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 30 | DeVry University-TexasBachelor's Degree | Irving, TX | $73,884 | $48,014 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 31 | DeVry University-VirginiaBachelor's Degree | Arlington, VA | $73,884 | $48,014 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Kean UniversityBachelor's Degree | Union, NJ | $72,483 | $26,570 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | Davenport UniversityBachelor's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $69,737 | $24,146 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $68,293 | $26,330 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $67,758 | $27,000 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $66,519 | $18,576 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleBachelor's Degree | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $56,991 | $43,280 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | NUC UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bayamon, PR | $34,804 | $23,500 | -147% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San SebastianBachelor's Degree | San Sebastian, PR | $33,351 | Not available | -156% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San JuanBachelor's Degree | San Juan, PR | $33,351 | Not available | -155% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | EDP University of Puerto Rico-CaguasBachelor's Degree | Caguas, PR | $33,351 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 42 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AguadillaBachelor's Degree | Aguadilla, PR | $31,241 | Not available | -164% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BayamonBachelor's Degree | Bayamon, PR | $29,382 | Not available | -172% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Baldwin Wallace UniversityBachelor's Degree | Berea, OH | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $27,603 |
| 45 | DeVry University-ColoradoBachelor's Degree | , | $73,884 | $48,014 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 46 | DeVry University-MissouriBachelor's Degree | , | $73,884 | $48,014 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 47 | DeVry University-North CarolinaBachelor's Degree | , | $73,884 | $48,014 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 48 | DeVry University-PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | , | $73,884 | $48,014 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 49 | DeVry University-TennesseeBachelor's Degree | , | $73,884 | $48,014 | 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.