Human Computer Interaction: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 5 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Positive payoff
+$78,075 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.
The estimate clears the cost within ten years, though your price and time to finish may change the result.
8.2 yrsModeled economic break-even
+23%Modeled 10-year ROI
$87,243Observed earnings · year 4
$60,608Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $19,519 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itObserved national outcomes
$87,243Median reported earnings · year 4
$65,814Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,125Median federal debt
84thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
3IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
5With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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
- $76,267
- Federal debt
- $21,121
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $42,107
- Federal debt
- $29,767
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,243
- Federal debt
- $27,125
- Reporting programs
- 5
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $142,499
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 8
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$83,075National median$87,24375th percentile$113,397
5 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$113,397Observed year-4 earnings$45,823
California College of the Arts$53,909 price · $149,149 earningsSavannah College of Art and Design$49,430 price · $113,397 earningsDigiPen Institute of Technology$44,446 price · $87,243 earningsStony Brook University$18,784 price · $83,075 earningsFull Sail University$38,875 price · $45,823 earnings
$18,784Annual college-wide average net price$49,430
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
5 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1California College of the Arts$149,1492Savannah College of Art and Design$113,3973DigiPen Institute of Technology$87,2434Stony Brook University$83,0755Full Sail University$45,823Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →24%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Computer and Information Systems Managers$175,140 median wage670,570 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3021+15.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 53.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$107,550–$297,510 10th–90th percentileComputer and Information Research Scientists$140,300 median wage37,200 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1221+21.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$82,200–$230,630 10th–90th percentileComputer Occupations, All Other$116,580 median wage435,370 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1299+5.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 27k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$55,940–$188,470 10th–90th percentileWeb and Digital Interface Designers$104,000 median wage113,330 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1255+6.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 8.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$53,750–$201,550 10th–90th percentileComputer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$96,980 median wage35,480 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1021+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$49,460–$170,200 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
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 | California College of the ArtsBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $149,149 | $27,125 | +163% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Savannah College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Savannah, GA | $113,397 | $24,500 | +81% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | DigiPen Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Redmond, WA | $87,243 | $28,209 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Stony Brook UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stony Brook, NY | $83,075 | $20,596 | +49% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Full Sail UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $45,823 | $33,471 | -98% | Negative payoff |
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.