MASTER'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 1103

Data Processing: is this master's degree worth it?

National picture across 1 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$167,605 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.

$167,605Median year-4 earnings
$41,431Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →
WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$167,605Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
97thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
1Reporting programs
1With year-4 earnings
COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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
1 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$53,247
Federal debt
$16,959
Reporting programs
21
21 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$84,099
Federal debt
$21,750
Reporting programs
3
3 report earnings →
CURRENT VIEW

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$167,605
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
1
1 report earnings →
COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$167,605National median$167,60575th percentile$167,605
1 programs report year‑4 earnings.
WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1University of San Francisco$167,605

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Computer Occupations, All OtherSOC 15-1299 · 1 crosswalk links
BEST COLLEGES FOR DATA PROCESSING

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.

#CollegeLocationEarnings, year 4Federal debtROI statusCost context
1University of San FranciscoMaster's DegreeSan Francisco, CA$167,605Not availableBaseline needed$41,431

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.