Bright outlook
Management
Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Median pay
- $175,140
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
ProgramsComputer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Software and Media Applications
CIP11.08
419 colleges offer Computer Software and Media Applications. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 419
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $59,767
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $24,125
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 419
- Associate's
- 329
- Bachelor's
- 185
- Master's
- 85
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 7
- Doctoral
- 8
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 68
What it covers
About Computer Software and Media Applications
Computer Software and Media Applications is part of Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services: instructional programs that focus on the computer and information sciences and prepare individuals for various occupations in information technology and computer operations fields.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 11.08.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 11.08.
- Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
- Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
- Computer Graphics
- Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 419 | $41,3694 yrs after · 6 colleges | $15,6257 colleges |
| Associate's | 329 | $39,5984 yrs after · 37 colleges | $14,6258 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 185 | $59,7674 yrs after · 48 colleges | $24,12551 colleges |
| Master's | 85 | $119,8394 yrs after · 22 colleges | $31,96318 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 8 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 68 | $104,4334 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Computer Software and Media Applications graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Redmond, WA · — · 93 graduates
$122,375
debt $27,000
- 2
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · 45 graduates
$115,839
debt $19,968
- 3
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofit · 28 graduates
$98,816
debt $11,875
- 4
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 76 graduates
$96,616
debt $22,500
- 5
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · 15 graduates
$95,430
debt not reported
- 6
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofit · 169 graduates
$88,096
debt $25,489
- 7
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 160 graduates
$75,792
debt $20,625
- 8
Menomonie, WI · Public · 66 graduates
$74,146
debt $23,000
- 9
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA · Public · 25 graduates
$71,462
debt not reported
- 10
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · Public · 47 graduates
$69,981
debt $16,416
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Computer Software and Media Applications by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Median pay
- $140,300
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Master's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Data Warehousing Specialists
- Median pay
- $139,500
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Programming
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Database Architects
- Median pay
- $139,500
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Software Developers
- Median pay
- $135,980
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Programming
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Business Intelligence Analysts
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Clinical Data Managers
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Data Scientists
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
More in Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Computer and Information Sciences, General866 colleges
- Computer Science751 colleges
- Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management642 colleges
- Computer Programming405 colleges
- Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications372 colleges
- Information Science/Studies265 colleges
- Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications109 colleges
- Data Processing101 colleges
Questions about Computer Software and Media Applications
How many colleges offer Computer Software and Media Applications?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Computer Software and Media Applications at these degree levels: certificate (419 colleges), associate's (329 colleges), bachelor's (185 colleges), master's (85 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (7 colleges), doctoral (8 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (68 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Computer Software and Media Applications graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Computer Software and Media Applications earn $59,767 a year four years after finishing, across 48 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Computer Software and Media Applications graduates earn the most?
DigiPen Institute of Technology reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Computer Software and Media Applications: $122,375 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.