Data Processing degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in data processing earn a median $84,099 four years after finishing, across 3 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in computer programming and data processing earn $73,463, $11,414 more than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is software developers (26%).
Median across 3 colleges; middle half $55,514–$89,540.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $44,366–$101,425. 511 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Computer Programming And Data Processing"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$37,825/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs data processing graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in computer programming and data processing actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | 26% | $135,980 | +10.2% | Bachelor's degree | IC |
| Computer Programmers | 7% | $100,390 | -7.3% | Bachelor's degree | CI |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 4% | $116,580 | +5.1% | Bachelor's degree | CIE |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 3% | $105,850 | +7.9% | Bachelor's degree | IC |
| Computer Support Specialists | 2% | $62,890 | -2.7% | — | — |
| Accountants And Auditors | 2% | $83,680 | +5.0% | Bachelor's degree | CEI |
| Other Managers | 2% | — | — | — | — |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale And Manufacturing | 2% | $76,460 | — | — | — |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Who tends to enjoy this work
The jobs these graduates hold score highest on Conventional, Investigative, Realistic interests (O*NET), weighted by how many graduates hold each job. A rough guide to fit, not a test.
O*NET 31.0 interest scores (1-7) for each job, weighted by Census share of graduates; EducationGuide calculation.
Colleges where data processing graduates earn the most
The highest graduate earnings among the 13 colleges we cover that offer this major. Pick your state in the table above, or open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellevue CollegeWA | $89,540 | $13,502 |
| 2 | University of Nevada-Las VegasNV | $84,099 | $21,750 |
| 3 | University of Southern MississippiMS | $55,514 | $28,743 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Data Processing degree questions
How much do Data Processing graduates make?
Data Processing graduates earn a median $84,099 four years after finishing, across 3 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $55,514 to $89,540; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in computer programming and data processing, the median is $73,463 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Data Processing degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in computer programming and data processing earn a median $73,463: $11,414 more than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $37,825 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Data Processing graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in computer programming and data processing, the most common jobs are software developers (26%), computer programmers (7%), computer occupations, all other (4%). Software Developers earn a U.S. median $135,980.
Census field of degree matched to this major by EducationGuide (Data Processing -> Computer Programming And Data Processing).
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
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Cite this: “Data Processing degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/data-processing.