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 $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 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.)
Computer Software and Media Applications ranks #111 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 46% of majors.
| # | 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.
How fast does Computer Software and Media Applications pay grow after graduation?
From $47,112 one year out to $58,894 four years out — a $11,782 climb, or 25% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Computer Software and Media Applications each year?
About 3,907 bachelor's graduates a year across 168 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.