Computer Software and Media Applications: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 21 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$40,090 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.
$40,090Median year-4 earnings
$15,813Average institution net-price context
$11,606Median federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$40,090Median reported earnings · year 4
$35,649Average reported earnings · year 5
$11,606Median federal debt
28thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
21Reporting programs
16With 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
- $40,090
- Federal debt
- $11,606
- Reporting programs
- 21
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,361
- Federal debt
- $17,937
- Reporting programs
- 46
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,596
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 72
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $82,592
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $119,840
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 26
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $104,433
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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$19,639National median$40,09075th percentile$47,690
16 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Southern Careers Institute-Austin$61,8652Hunter Business School$61,5803College of Western Idaho$60,8084University of Phoenix-Arizona$58,2425Ogden-Weber Technical College$47,6906Davis Technical College$47,3827Academy of Interactive Entertainment$42,5548DeVry University-Illinois$41,3699Dallas College$38,81010Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology$36,774Observed 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.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1194 · 3 crosswalk linksComputer ProgrammersSOC 15-1251 · 2 crosswalk linksData ScientistsSOC 15-2051 · 2 crosswalk linksGraphic DesignersSOC 27-1024 · 2 crosswalk linksSpecial Effects Artists and AnimatorsSOC 27-1014 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Research ScientistsSOC 15-1221 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 · 1 crosswalk linksDatabase AdministratorsSOC 15-1242 · 1 crosswalk linksDatabase ArchitectsSOC 15-1243 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 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 | Southern Careers Institute-AustinUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Austin, TX | $61,865 | $10,110 | Baseline needed | $25,660 |
| 2 | Hunter Business SchoolUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Levittown, NY | $61,580 | $9,500 | Baseline needed | $23,738 |
| 3 | College of Western IdahoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Nampa, ID | $60,808 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,500 |
| 4 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Phoenix, AZ | $58,242 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,520 |
| 5 | Ogden-Weber Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Ogden, UT | $47,690 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,229 |
| 6 | Davis Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Kaysville, UT | $47,382 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,410 |
| 7 | Academy of Interactive EntertainmentUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Seattle, WA | $42,554 | $12,000 | Baseline needed | $34,626 |
| 8 | DeVry University-IllinoisUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Lisle, IL | $41,369 | $18,732 | Baseline needed | $30,770 |
| 9 | Dallas CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Dallas, TX | $38,810 | $11,211 | Baseline needed | $3,214 |
| 10 | Florida Institute of Recording Sound and TechnologyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Orlando, FL | $36,774 | $10,251 | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 11 | Academy of Interactive EntertainmentUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Lafayette, LA | $32,664 | Not available | Baseline needed | $32,888 |
| 12 | ICPR Junior College-AreciboUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Arecibo, PR | $19,639 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,735 |
| 13 | ICPR Junior College-MayaguezUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Mayaguez, PR | $19,639 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,435 |
| 14 | ICPR Junior CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Hato Rey, PR | $19,639 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,096 |
| 15 | ICPR Junior CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Manati, PR | $19,639 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,605 |
| 16 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Carolina, PR | $17,767 | $4,875 | Baseline needed | $7,761 |
| 17 | Visible Music CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Memphis, TN | Not available | $9,500 | Baseline needed | $27,820 |
| 18 | AI Miami International University of Art and DesignUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | Not available | $39,000 | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 19 | The Art Institute of AtlantaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | Not available | $35,968 | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 20 | Hussian College-PhiladelphiaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | Not available | $26,625 | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 21 | Miami International University of Art & Design-Art Institute DallasUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | Not available | $39,000 | 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.