Computer Software and Media Applications bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · Federal field 1108
Data scope
Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.
$56,945 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Debt pressure
20.3% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$132,098 / year
10-year scenario
+128% · Strong payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
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+$528,390
$20,000Annual price+$448,390
$33,000Current college-wide context+$396,390
$40,000Annual price+$368,390
$60,000Annual price+$288,390
$80,000Annual price+$208,390
$100,000Annual price+$128,390
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+60%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$103,071 → $165,219Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort18Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort30Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median19Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
95Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers59Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count53Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$115,839$79,757 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 20 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$32,740
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$23,500
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$115,839
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$249/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$103,071Year 1
$115,839Year 4
$165,219Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
2.6% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$9,653
Estimated loan payment$249
19borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$115,839 vs. $58,894
$56,945 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$76,630 median wageCA estimate · 11,040 jobs · 25-1194-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeData Scientists$141,590 median wageCA estimate · 39,310 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$130,540 median wageCA estimate · 7,410 jobs · 27-1014-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Programmers$116,760 median wageCA estimate · 11,340 jobs · 15-1251-7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeGraphic Designers$75,130 median wageCA estimate · 27,390 jobs · 27-1024-1.7% projected U.S. growth · 16k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer and Information Systems Managers$218,290 median wageCA estimate · 94,720 jobs · 11-3021+15.8% projected U.S. growth · 53.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSoftware Developers$174,410 median wageCA estimate · 284,390 jobs · 15-1252+10.2% projected U.S. growth · 95.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDatabase Architects$170,160 median wageCA estimate · 6,210 jobs · 15-1243+9.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer and Information Research Scientists$159,100 median wageCA estimate · 8,440 jobs · 15-1221+21.8% projected U.S. growth · 2.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeWeb and Digital Interface Designers$136,110 median wageCA estimate · 27,090 jobs · 15-1255+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$128,210 median wageCA estimate · 2,480 jobs · 25-1021+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWeb Developers$119,570 median wageCA estimate · 7,320 jobs · 15-1254+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 5.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.