Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

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.

What stays fixed$115,839 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
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$165,219
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
18Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
30Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
19Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not 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 enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
59Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
53Federal 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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$32,740Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$90,300Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE9.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE91.8%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

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.

Irvine, CA

University of California, Irvine

$1,850 less debt · $18,489 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,981
Debt
$21,650
Annual net price
$14,251
View outcomes →
San Jose, CA

University of Silicon Valley

$4,925 lower annual net price

Earnings
$67,659
Debt
$31,000
Annual net price
$27,815
View outcomes →
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

$46,275 higher earnings · $3,731 less debt · $19,602 lower annual net price

Earnings
$162,114
Debt
$19,769
Annual net price
$13,138
View outcomes →
Salt Lake City, UT

Western Governors University

$15,359 higher earnings · $213 less debt · $20,192 lower annual net price

Earnings
$131,198
Debt
$23,287
Annual net price
$12,548
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

30 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →