Computer Software and Media Applications: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 11.08. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 1,233 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 482 | 4,460 | $35,694 | $41,400 | $13,250 16 programs |
| Associate's degree | 352 | 2,255 | $32,720 | $41,737 | $15,699 16 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 213 | 4,402 | $48,533 | $58,894 | $25,122 60 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7 | 0 | Data unavailable | $108,478 | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 97 | 4,138 | $97,819 | $120,083 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 9 | 4 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 73 | 318 | $83,472 | $107,086 | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public · 21 graduates measured | $50,992 | Data unavailable | $14,500 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College MN · Public · 17 graduates measured | $48,496 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Southern Careers Institute-Austin TX · Private, for-profit · 152 graduates measured | $41,354 | $61,865 | $9,373 |
| Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio TX · Private, for-profit · 152 graduates measured | $41,354 | $61,865 | $9,373 |
| Hunter Business School NY · Private, for-profit · 23 graduates measured | $40,999 | $61,580 | $8,985 |
| Visible Music College TN · Private, nonprofit · 86 graduates measured | $40,475 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| DeVry University-Florida FL · Private, for-profit · 52 graduates measured | $36,210 | $41,369 | $18,332 |
| DeVry University-Illinois IL · Private, for-profit · 52 graduates measured | $36,210 | $41,369 | $18,332 |
| DeVry University-Ohio OH · Private, for-profit · 52 graduates measured | $36,210 | $41,369 | $18,332 |
| Academy of Interactive Entertainment WA · Private, nonprofit · 49 graduates measured | $33,701 | $42,554 | $12,000 |
| Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology FL · Private, for-profit · 63 graduates measured | $31,107 | $36,774 | $9,745 |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College KY · Public · 28 graduates measured | $28,273 | Data unavailable | $15,438 |
| Dixie Technical College UT · Public · 31 graduates measured | $25,013 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Academy of Interactive Entertainment LA · Private, nonprofit · 45 graduates measured | $18,678 | $32,664 | $11,803 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Area Technical College WI · Public · 30 graduates measured | $65,893 | $80,056 | $17,875 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College PA · Public · 24 graduates measured | $42,829 | $44,256 | $22,812 |
| St Petersburg College FL · Public · 22 graduates measured | $42,440 | $40,278 | Data unavailable |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College MN · Public · 34 graduates measured | $40,210 | $68,249 | Data unavailable |
| Valencia College FL · Public · 42 graduates measured | $36,099 | $46,230 | $11,055 |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College NY · Public · 42 graduates measured | $32,722 | $43,531 | Data unavailable |
| Palm Beach State College FL · Public · 20 graduates measured | $31,058 | $48,988 | Data unavailable |
| Santa Fe College FL · Public · 21 graduates measured | $30,878 | $40,794 | $13,661 |
| Quinsigamond Community College MA · Public · 19 graduates measured | $30,118 | $37,814 | $16,500 |
| Stark State College OH · Public · 32 graduates measured | $29,391 | $34,518 | Data unavailable |
| Miami Dade College FL · Public · 20 graduates measured | $29,000 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Pittsburgh Technical College · Private, nonprofit · 102 graduates measured | $28,110 | $36,207 | $17,624 |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College KY · Public · 29 graduates measured | $28,030 | Data unavailable | $18,805 |
| Erie Institute of Technology Inc PA · Private, for-profit · 19 graduates measured | $26,422 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| South Louisiana Community College LA · Public · 18 graduates measured | $24,390 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University MA · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $99,899 | Data unavailable | $19,500 |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs MA · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $99,899 | Data unavailable | $19,500 |
| University of Southern California CA · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $95,396 | $115,839 | $19,968 |
| Western Governors University UT · Private, nonprofit · 179 graduates measured | $93,757 | $131,198 | $21,786 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public · 64 graduates measured | $93,021 | $162,114 | Data unavailable |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public · 68 graduates measured | $84,115 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout WI · Public · 73 graduates measured | $77,075 | $74,146 | $25,000 |
| Utah State University UT · Public · 65 graduates measured | $73,187 | Data unavailable | $13,000 |
| DePaul University IL · Private, nonprofit · 34 graduates measured | $68,868 | $96,616 | $24,250 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology NY · Private, nonprofit · 178 graduates measured | $67,980 | $88,096 | $25,244 |
| Wellesley College MA · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $67,236 | $98,816 | $11,875 |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology WA · Private, for-profit · 38 graduates measured | $66,593 | $122,375 | $27,000 |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth MN · Public · 16 graduates measured | $65,775 | Data unavailable | $19,500 |
| Champlain College VT · Private, nonprofit · 62 graduates measured | $65,158 | $67,795 | $35,592 |
| Anthem Institute · Private, for-profit · 65 graduates measured | $64,336 | $92,096 | $27,000 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center NY · Public · 69 graduates measured | $127,235 | $114,338 | Data unavailable |
| George Mason University VA · Public · 85 graduates measured | $122,523 | $162,691 | Data unavailable |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public · 132 graduates measured | $119,860 | $148,845 | Data unavailable |
| Regis University CO · Private, nonprofit · 40 graduates measured | $117,455 | $139,693 | Data unavailable |
| George Washington University DC · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $115,535 | $134,232 | Data unavailable |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus VA · Public · 57 graduates measured | $114,566 | $127,420 | Data unavailable |
| Boston University MA · Private, nonprofit · 58 graduates measured | $113,179 | $140,032 | Data unavailable |
| DePaul University IL · Private, nonprofit · 88 graduates measured | $112,489 | $158,667 | Data unavailable |
| Rowan University NJ · Public · 17 graduates measured | $110,456 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Lewis University IL · Private, nonprofit · 54 graduates measured | $105,371 | $140,898 | Data unavailable |
| University of St Thomas MN · Private, nonprofit · 74 graduates measured | $105,005 | $119,571 | Data unavailable |
| University of Georgia GA · Public · 39 graduates measured | $103,822 | $120,108 | Data unavailable |
| Western Governors University UT · Private, nonprofit · 591 graduates measured | $100,883 | $129,737 | Data unavailable |
| Eastern University PA · Private, nonprofit · 81 graduates measured | $98,863 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Northeastern University MA · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $87,482 | $158,542 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Graduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Carolina University NC · Public · 22 graduates measured | $85,400 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Computer Software and Media Applications
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and information systems managers | $175,140 | +15.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer and information research scientists | $140,300 | +21.8% | Master's degree |
| Database administrators | $104,620 | -0.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Database architects | $139,500 | +9.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer programmers | $100,390 | -7.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Software developers | $135,980 | +10.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Web developers | $92,650 | +3.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Web and digital interface designers | $104,000 | +6.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Data scientists | $120,230 | +34.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer science teachers, postsecondary | $96,980 | +4.9% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary | $63,820 | -0.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Special effects artists and animators | $102,030 | -0.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Graphic designers | $62,960 | -1.7% | Bachelor's degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (5)
- 11.0801 Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
- 11.0802 Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
- 11.0803 Computer Graphics
- 11.0804 Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
- 11.0899 Computer Software and Media Applications, Other