Computer and Information Sciences, General: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 53 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$51,790 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.
$51,790Median year-4 earnings
$8,721Average institution net-price context
$10,938Median federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$51,790Median reported earnings · year 4
$46,022Average reported earnings · year 5
$10,938Median federal debt
52thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
53Reporting programs
45With year-4 earnings
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.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,790
- Federal debt
- $10,938
- Reporting programs
- 53
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,238
- Federal debt
- $14,440
- Reporting programs
- 142
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,860
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 489
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $125,902
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 78
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $158,849
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $105,731
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,038
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
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$43,739National median$51,79075th percentile$61,412
45 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Massachusetts-Lowell$85,5432University of Nebraska at Omaha$83,7203Tidewater Community College$80,4734Salt Lake Community College$75,1975Davis Technical College$71,4676Bunker Hill Community College$70,6287Colorado State University Global$69,7868Wake Technical Community College$66,3799Florida State College at Jacksonville$65,25010Northern Virginia Community College$65,112Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Computer and Information Research ScientistsSOC 15-1221 · 5 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 3 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 3 crosswalk linksSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersSOC 15-1253 · 3 crosswalk linksWeb and Digital Interface DesignersSOC 15-1255 · 3 crosswalk linksComputer Network ArchitectsSOC 15-1241 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Systems AnalystsSOC 15-1211 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 · 2 crosswalk linksData ScientistsSOC 15-2051 · 2 crosswalk linksDatabase ArchitectsSOC 15-1243 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Occupations, All OtherSOC 15-1299 · 1 crosswalk linksDatabase AdministratorsSOC 15-1242 · 1 crosswalk links
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.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts-LowellUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Lowell, MA | $85,543 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,163 |
| 2 | University of Nebraska at OmahaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Omaha, NE | $83,720 | $19,875 | Baseline needed | $13,441 |
| 3 | Tidewater Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Norfolk, VA | $80,473 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,762 |
| 4 | Salt Lake Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Salt Lake City, UT | $75,197 | $11,000 | Baseline needed | $9,804 |
| 5 | Davis Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Kaysville, UT | $71,467 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,410 |
| 6 | Bunker Hill Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Boston, MA | $70,628 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,818 |
| 7 | Colorado State University GlobalUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Denver, CO | $69,786 | $27,125 | Baseline needed | $16,510 |
| 8 | Wake Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Raleigh, NC | $66,379 | $14,778 | Baseline needed | $8,759 |
| 9 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Jacksonville, FL | $65,250 | Not available | Baseline needed | $4,128 |
| 10 | Northern Virginia Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Annandale, VA | $65,112 | $14,406 | Baseline needed | $9,919 |
| 11 | Columbus State Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Columbus, OH | $64,004 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,400 |
| 12 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Charlotte, NC | $61,412 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,345 |
| 13 | Gateway Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Florence, KY | $60,652 | $10,313 | Baseline needed | $5,725 |
| 14 | Front Range Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Westminster, CO | $59,741 | $18,799 | Baseline needed | $13,031 |
| 15 | Cape Fear Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Wilmington, NC | $57,650 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,610 |
| 16 | Northwood Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Rice Lake, WI | $57,349 | $10,250 | Baseline needed | $8,989 |
| 17 | Guilford Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Jamestown, NC | $54,758 | $20,000 | Baseline needed | $15,002 |
| 18 | Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Lexington, KY | $53,895 | $14,823 | Baseline needed | $6,113 |
| 19 | Tarrant County College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fort Worth, TX | $53,883 | $12,270 | Baseline needed | $4,337 |
| 20 | Mitchell Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Statesville, NC | $52,871 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,481 |
| 21 | Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Louisville, KY | $51,970 | $14,082 | Baseline needed | $6,376 |
| 22 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Asheville, NC | $51,862 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,602 |
| 23 | Craven Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | New Bern, NC | $51,790 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,289 |
| 24 | West Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Paducah, KY | $51,632 | $10,875 | Baseline needed | $5,353 |
| 25 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Indianapolis, IN | $51,475 | $11,885 | Baseline needed | $7,258 |
| 26 | San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Visalia, CA | $51,444 | $8,867 | Baseline needed | $27,854 |
| 27 | Miami Dade CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Miami, FL | $49,239 | Not available | Baseline needed | $5,463 |
| 28 | Daytona State CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Daytona Beach, FL | $47,809 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,177 |
| 29 | Indian River State CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fort Pierce, FL | $47,477 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,815 |
| 30 | Forsyth Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Winston-Salem, NC | $47,420 | $9,707 | Baseline needed | $7,200 |
| 31 | Bridgerland Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Logan, UT | $47,272 | Not available | Baseline needed | $2,338 |
| 32 | Northeast Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Norfolk, NE | $46,455 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,544 |
| 33 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Salisbury, NC | $43,739 | $8,609 | Baseline needed | $7,981 |
| 34 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Elizabethtown, KY | $43,488 | $14,068 | Baseline needed | $5,143 |
| 35 | Lone Star College SystemUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | The Woodlands, TX | $43,120 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,252 |
| 36 | Virginia Western Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Roanoke, VA | $43,004 | Not available | Baseline needed | $4,966 |
| 37 | Wayne Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Goldsboro, NC | $42,956 | Not available | Baseline needed | $2,245 |
| 38 | Davidson-Davie Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Thomasville, NC | $42,816 | $12,625 | Baseline needed | $8,753 |
| 39 | Baltimore City Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Baltimore, MD | $42,562 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,987 |
| 40 | Central Carolina Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Sanford, NC | $38,760 | Not available | Baseline needed | $5,446 |
| 41 | Crowder CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Neosho, MO | $34,839 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,023 |
| 42 | University of Arkansas Community College-MorriltonUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Morrilton, AR | $33,339 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,725 |
| 43 | Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fayetteville, NC | $32,682 | $15,499 | Baseline needed | $3,589 |
| 44 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Bowling Green, KY | Not available | $7,010 | Baseline needed | $3,537 |
| 45 | Madisonville Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Madisonville, KY | Not available | $13,757 | Baseline needed | $5,406 |
| 46 | Maysville Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Maysville, KY | Not available | $10,500 | Baseline needed | $4,605 |
| 47 | Somerset Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Somerset, KY | Not available | $9,000 | Baseline needed | $4,398 |
| 48 | Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization CenterUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Minneapolis, MN | Not available | $9,416 | Baseline needed | $17,649 |
| 49 | Durham Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Durham, NC | Not available | $10,208 | Baseline needed | $1,664 |
| 50 | Southern Careers Institute-AustinUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Austin, TX | Not available | $10,076 | Baseline needed | $25,660 |
| 51 | Altierus Career College-TampaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $46,453 | $8,619 | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 52 | Career Technical InstituteUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $39,588 | $7,652 | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 53 | Associated Technical College-San DiegoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | Not available | $9,500 | Baseline needed | Not available |
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.