Computer Software and Media Applications: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Computer Software and Media Applications graduates earn a median $58,894 four years after finishing — $10,534/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 6.4 years. Federal data pools 168 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 3,907 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $162,114 |
| 2 | Western Governors University | UT | $131,198 |
| 3 | University of Southern California | CA | $115,839 |
| 4 | Wellesley College | MA | $98,816 |
| 5 | Park University | MO | $98,256 |
| 6 | DePaul University | IL | $96,616 |
| 7 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | MA | $95,430 |
| 8 | Florida Polytechnic University | FL | $92,070 |
| 9 | Rochester Institute of Technology | NY | $88,096 |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | WI | $84,809 |
| 11 | University of Phoenix-Arizona | AZ | $81,636 |
| 12 | The New School | NY | $75,792 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.