Computer Software and Media Applications: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 26 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$119,840 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.
$119,840Median year-4 earnings
$25,332Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$119,840Median reported earnings · year 4
$116,658Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
84thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
26Reporting programs
26With 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$96,989National median$119,84075th percentile$140,032
26 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Southern California$179,0552George Mason University$162,6913DePaul University$158,6674Northeastern University$158,5425Northeastern University Professional Programs$158,5426North Carolina State University at Raleigh$148,8457Lewis University$140,8988Boston University$140,0329Regis University$139,69310George Washington University$134,232Observed 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 | University of Southern CaliforniaMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $179,055 | Not available | Baseline needed | $32,740 |
| 2 | George Mason UniversityMaster's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $162,691 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,915 |
| 3 | DePaul UniversityMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $158,667 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,902 |
| 4 | Northeastern UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $158,542 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,915 |
| 5 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $158,542 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 6 | North Carolina State University at RaleighMaster's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $148,845 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,303 |
| 7 | Lewis UniversityMaster's Degree | Romeoville, IL | $140,898 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,028 |
| 8 | Boston UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $140,032 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,402 |
| 9 | Regis UniversityMaster's Degree | Denver, CO | $139,693 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,397 |
| 10 | George Washington UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $134,232 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,586 |
| 11 | Western Governors UniversityMaster's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $129,737 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,548 |
| 12 | University of Virginia-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $127,420 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,565 |
| 13 | University of GeorgiaMaster's Degree | Athens, GA | $120,108 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,936 |
| 14 | University of St ThomasMaster's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $119,571 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,155 |
| 15 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $114,338 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 16 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityMaster's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $113,586 | Not available | Baseline needed | $31,944 |
| 17 | The New SchoolMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $113,315 | Not available | Baseline needed | $58,741 |
| 18 | Appalachian State UniversityMaster's Degree | Boone, NC | $107,500 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,836 |
| 19 | Pace UniversityMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $105,796 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,892 |
| 20 | Robert Morris UniversityMaster's Degree | Moon Township, PA | $96,989 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,003 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityMaster's Degree | California, PA | $95,801 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,256 |
| 22 | Austin Peay State UniversityMaster's Degree | Clarksville, TN | $93,644 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,735 |
| 23 | University of UtahMaster's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $93,475 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,200 |
| 24 | New York UniversityMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $89,704 | Not available | Baseline needed | $37,050 |
| 25 | Academy of Art UniversityMaster's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $87,998 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,613 |
| 26 | Texas A&M University-College StationMaster's Degree | College Station, TX | $84,637 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,315 |
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.