Software and Media Applications degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in software and media applications earn a median $61,451 four years after finishing, across 37 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 37 colleges; middle half $51,596–$84,809.
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 software and media applications 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.
Software and Media Applications earnings by state
Two views of pay: recent graduates of the state's colleges four years out (College Scorecard), and everyone ages 25-34 living in the state with this field of degree (Census). States show a figure only with at least 3 colleges or 100 survey respondents.
| State | Graduates, 4 yrs (colleges) | Ages 25-34 (respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $95,430 (3) | — |
| Missouri | $48,729 (3) | — |
| Washington | $71,462 (3) | — |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where software and media applications graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 4 in Florida, 1 in Virginia, 9 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern CaliforniaCA | $115,839 | $23,500 |
| 2 | University of California-IrvineCA | $69,981 | $21,650 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Software and Media Applications degree questions
How much do Software and Media Applications graduates make?
Software and Media Applications graduates earn a median $61,451 four years after finishing, across 37 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $51,596 to $84,809; 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 Software and Media Applications 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 Software and Media Applications 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.
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: “Software and Media Applications degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/software-and-media-applications.