Data Processing: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Positive payoff
+$152,994 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.
The estimate clears the cost within ten years, though your price and time to finish may change the result.
6.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
+64%Modeled 10-year ROI
$84,099Observed earnings · year 4
$52,748Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $38,249 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itFour useful answers about Data Processing
How much do Data Processing bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $84,099 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 $21,750. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Data Processing?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $55,514 to $84,099 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Data Processing?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 1 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+$210,990
$14,000Current college-wide context+$154,990
$16,000Annual price+$146,990
$32,000Annual price+$82,990
$48,000Annual price+$18,990
$64,000Annual price−$45,010
$80,000Annual price−$109,010
Observed national outcomes
$84,099Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
$21,750Median federal debt
81thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
3With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 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
- $50,824
- Federal debt
- $10,718
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,247
- Federal debt
- $16,959
- Reporting programs
- 21
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,099
- Federal debt
- $21,750
- Reporting programs
- 3
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $167,605
- 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$55,514National median$84,09975th percentile$84,099
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.
1Bellevue College$89,5402University of Nevada-Las Vegas$84,0993University of Southern Mississippi$55,514Observed 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.
Computer Occupations, All Other$116,580 median wage435,370 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1299+5.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 27k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$55,940–$188,470 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. 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 | Bellevue CollegeBachelor's Degree | Bellevue, WA | $89,540 | $13,502 | +97% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $84,099 | $21,750 | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of Southern MississippiBachelor's Degree | Hattiesburg, MS | $55,514 | $28,743 | -61% | Negative payoff |
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.