Computer Software and Media Applications: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 72 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$214,641 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
42.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−76%Modeled 10-year ROI
$51,596Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$51,596Median reported earnings · year 4
$58,379Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
26thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
72Reporting programs
67With 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.
OPEN PROFILE
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$47,440National median$51,59675th percentile$69,981
67 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$162,1142Western Governors University$131,1983DigiPen Institute of Technology$122,3754University of Southern California$115,8395Wellesley College$98,8166Park University$98,2567DePaul University$96,6168Worcester Polytechnic Institute$95,4309Florida Polytechnic University$92,07010Rochester Institute of Technology$88,096Observed 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. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $162,114 | $19,769 | +404% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Western Governors UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $131,198 | $23,287 | +274% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | DigiPen Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Redmond, WA | $122,375 | $27,000 | +116% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $115,839 | $23,500 | +128% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Wellesley CollegeBachelor's Degree | Wellesley, MA | $98,816 | Not available | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Park UniversityBachelor's Degree | Parkville, MO | $98,256 | $19,812 | +102% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $96,616 | $23,249 | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $95,430 | $24,656 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Florida Polytechnic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lakeland, FL | $92,070 | $7,500 | +107% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $88,096 | $27,000 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointBachelor's Degree | Stevens Point, WI | $84,809 | $24,940 | +67% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $81,636 | $44,225 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | The New SchoolBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $75,792 | $25,489 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $74,146 | $27,000 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Academy of Art UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $73,398 | $39,715 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $71,462 | $14,500 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $71,462 | $14,500 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $69,981 | $21,650 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Champlain CollegeBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $67,795 | $27,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of Silicon ValleyBachelor's Degree | San Jose, CA | $67,659 | $31,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | School of Visual ArtsBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $67,483 | $27,000 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Full Sail UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $66,676 | Not available | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Brigham Young University-IdahoBachelor's Degree | Rexburg, ID | $65,397 | $9,532 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $61,892 | $22,715 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $61,451 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | New England Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $60,524 | $33,000 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Duquesne UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,310 | $27,000 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $59,769 | $20,937 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $59,766 | $21,250 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Baker CollegeBachelor's Degree | Owosso, MI | $58,655 | $49,189 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $57,772 | $28,252 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | College of CharlestonBachelor's Degree | Charleston, SC | $52,596 | $22,750 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $51,764 | $28,360 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $51,596 | $23,959 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Wilmington UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Castle, DE | $50,722 | $22,000 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $50,374 | $27,000 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Johnson & Wales University-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $50,374 | $27,000 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Maryville, MO | $48,729 | $23,250 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Lakewood, CO | $48,472 | $44,806 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | DeVry University-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 41 | DeVry University-CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Ontario, CA | $47,440 | $48,849 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | DeVry University-FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $47,440 | $48,849 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | DeVry University-GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Decatur, GA | $47,440 | $48,849 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | DeVry University-IllinoisBachelor's Degree | Lisle, IL | $47,440 | $48,849 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | DeVry University-New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Iselin, NJ | $47,440 | $48,849 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | DeVry University-OhioBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $47,440 | $48,849 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | DeVry University-TexasBachelor's Degree | Irving, TX | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 48 | DeVry University-VirginiaBachelor's Degree | Arlington, VA | $47,440 | $48,849 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of DubuqueBachelor's Degree | Dubuque, IA | $46,296 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Eastern Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cheney, WA | $46,104 | $23,250 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Lindenwood UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Charles, MO | $45,810 | $25,717 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Dakota State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Madison, SD | $42,513 | $27,000 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Berklee College of MusicBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $40,186 | $27,000 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Purdue University NorthwestBachelor's Degree | Hammond, IN | $29,630 | $17,750 | -175% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Guaynabo, PR | $21,309 | $5,131 | -215% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | University of Colorado Colorado SpringsBachelor's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | Not available | $26,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,788 |
| 57 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | Not available | $22,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $37,050 |
| 58 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | Not available | $20,810 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $32,875 |
| 59 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | Not available | $23,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,200 |
| 60 | DeVry University-ColoradoBachelor's Degree | , | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 61 | DeVry University-MissouriBachelor's Degree | , | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 62 | DeVry University-PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | , | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 63 | DeVry University-TennesseeBachelor's Degree | , | $47,440 | $48,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 64 | The Art Institute of HoustonBachelor's Degree | , | $45,716 | $40,667 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 65 | The Art Institute of AustinBachelor's Degree | , | $45,716 | $40,667 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 66 | The Art Institute of San AntonioBachelor's Degree | , | $45,716 | $40,667 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 67 | AI Miami International University of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | , | $44,268 | $38,081 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 68 | Miami International University of Art & Design-Art Institute DallasBachelor's Degree | , | $44,268 | $38,081 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 69 | Medaille UniversityBachelor's Degree | , | $38,594 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 70 | The Art Institute of AtlantaBachelor's Degree | , | $36,146 | $43,092 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 71 | The Art Institute of Virginia BeachBachelor's Degree | , | $36,146 | $43,092 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 72 | Living Arts CollegeBachelor's Degree | , | Not available | $30,417 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | 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.