Computer Programming
Computer & Information Sciences
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $59,204 | $53,957 to $69,038 | 17 | 94% |
| Associate's Degree | $61,678 | $49,554 to $70,046 | 50 | 98% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $83,694 | $69,551 to $103,900 | 23 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +5% (2025 to 2035), about 136,200 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $135,980 | +10.2% | 95,300 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $104,300 | +5.7% | 10,700 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $76,220 | +1.2% | 9,000 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $104,000 | +6% | 8,300 |
| Web Developers | $92,650 | +3.8% | 5,300 |
| Computer Programmers | $100,390 | -7.3% | 4,400 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a computer programming program, of 487 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Western Governors University
- Austin Community College District
- Dallas College
- Valencia College
- Diablo Valley College
- Orange Coast College
- DePaul University
- University of Utah
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.