COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Computer Software and Media Applications master's degree at Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are below similar programs.
$12,583 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- Not available
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- $267,500 / year
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- Withheld by data safeguards
- Available price data
- College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
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.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$54,745Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$107,500$52,755 above the preliminary benchmark
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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
GRADUATE-DEGREE BASELINE
$107,500 vs. $58,894
$48,606 above the national bachelor’s median in the same field.
Comparison basis67 bachelor’s program records
This is a cross-cohort benchmark, not the salary increase caused by earning this graduate credential. Your current earnings remain the correct baseline for personal ROI.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$16,836
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWINGNot available
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$107,500
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENTNot available
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.
Enter my price →AVERAGE NET PRICE$16,836Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$23,169Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE90.1%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE74.5%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.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
Repayment pressure is not available
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$8,958
Estimated loan paymentNot available
Not availableborrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$107,500 vs. $120,083
$12,583 below the national median for the same field and credential.
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$62,390 median wageNC estimate · 6,510 jobs · 25-1194$51,840–$74,820 middle 50% of NC wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 8,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeData Scientists$119,090 median wageNC estimate · 11,430 jobs · 15-2051$82,440–$147,540 middle 50% of NC wages+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$88,350 median wageNC estimate · 370 jobs · 27-1014$62,530–$105,260 middle 50% of NC wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Programmers$81,070 median wageNC estimate · 4,120 jobs · 15-1251$44,030–$105,370 middle 50% of NC wages-7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeGraphic Designers$58,450 median wageNC estimate · 5,660 jobs · 27-1024$46,710–$74,410 middle 50% of NC wages-1.7% projected U.S. growth · 16,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer and Information Systems Managers$172,860 median wageNC estimate · 25,650 jobs · 11-3021$137,690–$217,280 middle 50% of NC wages+15.8% projected U.S. growth · 53,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSoftware Developers$134,710 median wageNC estimate · 58,470 jobs · 15-1252$104,530–$164,750 middle 50% of NC wages+10.2% projected U.S. growth · 95,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDatabase Architects$134,630 median wageNC estimate · 4,070 jobs · 15-1243$106,320–$164,020 middle 50% of NC wages+9.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer and Information Research Scientists$128,370 median wageNC estimate · 600 jobs · 15-1221$108,010–$162,910 middle 50% of NC wages+21.8% projected U.S. growth · 2,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeDatabase Administrators$113,900 median wageNC estimate · 1,920 jobs · 15-1242$82,120–$138,900 middle 50% of NC wages-0.1% projected U.S. growth · 3,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWeb and Digital Interface Designers$97,990 median wageNC estimate · 3,400 jobs · 15-1255$63,920–$133,860 middle 50% of NC wages+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWeb Developers$96,610 median wageNC estimate · 2,030 jobs · 15-1254$72,890–$122,540 middle 50% of NC wages+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 5,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Information
Educational Services
Manufacturing
Management of Companies and Enterprises
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.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
$41,345 higher earnings
- Earnings
- $148,845
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $17,303
Western Governors University
$22,237 higher earnings · $4,288 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $129,737
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $12,548
University of Georgia
$12,608 higher earnings · $2,900 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $120,108
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $13,936
University of Southern California
$71,555 higher earnings
- Earnings
- $179,055
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $32,740
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
Not reported observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
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 →