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MASTER'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 1102

Computer Programming: is this master's degree worth it?

National picture across 3 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$158,509 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.

$158,509Median year-4 earnings

$22,609Average 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

$158,509Median reported earnings · year 4

$125,642Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

97thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

3Reporting programs

3With 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: $58,693
Federal debt: $14,250
Reporting programs: 22

20 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $59,646
Federal debt: $17,108
Reporting programs: 57

55 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $78,404
Federal debt: $31,050
Reporting programs: 33

32 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $158,509
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 3

3 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $52,638
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$84,866National median$158,50975th percentile$158,509

3 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1University of Chicago$179,964 2DePaul University$158,509 3Maryville University of Saint Louis$84,866

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 ProgrammersSOC 15-1251 · 6 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 5 crosswalk linksSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersSOC 15-1253 · 5 crosswalk linksComputer Network Support SpecialistsSOC 15-1231 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksWeb DevelopersSOC 15-1254 · 1 crosswalk linksWeb and Digital Interface DesignersSOC 15-1255 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

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 ChicagoMaster's Degree	Chicago, IL	$179,964	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,860
2	DePaul UniversityMaster's Degree	Chicago, IL	$158,509	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,902
3	Maryville University of Saint LouisMaster's Degree	Saint Louis, MO	$84,866	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,066

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.