Grad school ยท Computer and information sciences
Computer Software and Media Applications graduate programs: earnings and debt by school
70 colleges award master's degrees in computer software and media applications. Graduates of the typical program earned $100,883 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $32,069 in federal loans taken at the school.
Official field: Computer Software and Media Applications. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.
| Degree level | Programs | Typical earnings 1 yr after | Typical median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's | 70 | $100,883 | $32,069 |
| Doctoral | 2 | n/a | n/a |
Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay
Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.
Master's programs in computer software and media applications
Highest first-year earnings
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 83 | n/a | $179,055 | n/a |
| George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA | 346 | $122,523 | $162,691 | $26,886 |
| DePaul UniversityChicago, IL | 142 | $112,489 | $158,667 | $44,967 |
| Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA | 199 | $87,482 | $158,542 | $32,069 |
| Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBoston, MA | 737 | $87,482 | $158,542 | $32,069 |
| North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC | 95 | $119,860 | $148,845 | $30,797 |
| Lewis UniversityRomeoville, IL | 82 | $105,371 | $140,898 | $39,827 |
| Boston UniversityBoston, MA | 133 | $113,179 | $140,032 | $31,149 |
| Regis UniversityDenver, CO | 34 | $117,455 | $139,693 | $41,000 |
| George Washington UniversityWashington, DC | 92 | $115,535 | $134,232 | n/a |
| Western Governors UniversitySalt Lake City, UT | 578 | $100,883 | $129,737 | $13,476 |
| University of GeorgiaAthens, GA | 20 | $103,822 | $120,108 | n/a |
| University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN | 73 | $105,005 | $119,571 | $51,512 |
| Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA | 67 | n/a | $113,586 | $161,583 |
| The New SchoolNew York, NY | 106 | n/a | $113,315 | $41,000 |
| Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC | 29 | $79,604 | $107,500 | $27,967 |
| Robert Morris UniversityMoon Township, PA | 21 | $71,194 | $96,989 | n/a |
| Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN | 65 | $77,743 | $93,644 | n/a |
| University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT | 58 | $83,845 | $93,475 | $41,000 |
| New York UniversityNew York, NY | 162 | $74,567 | $89,704 | $70,500 |
| Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA | 191 | $54,681 | $87,998 | $68,209 |
| Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX | 25 | n/a | $84,637 | n/a |
| Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ | 68 | $110,456 | n/a | n/a |
| Stockton UniversityGalloway, NJ | 8 | $78,242 | n/a | n/a |
| Sacred Heart UniversityFairfield, CT | 37 | $71,977 | n/a | n/a |
| Art Center College of DesignPasadena, CA | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Berklee College of MusicBoston, MA | 65 | n/a | n/a | $31,857 |
| Bradley UniversityPeoria, IL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| California Institute of the ArtsValencia, CA | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| DigiPen Institute of TechnologyRedmond, WA | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dominican UniversityRiver Forest, IL | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroSan Juan, PR | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Kent State University at KentKent, OH | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lindenwood UniversitySaint Charles, MO | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lynn UniversityBoca Raton, FL | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Marist UniversityPoughkeepsie, NY | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New England CollegeHenniker, NH | 50 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New York Institute of TechnologyOld Westbury, NY | 38 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale, FL | 34 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Purdue University NorthwestHammond, IN | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN | 41 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Radford UniversityRadford, VA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, RI | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY | 22 | n/a | n/a | $20,500 |
| School of Visual ArtsNew York, NY | 67 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle, WA | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Shepherd UniversityShepherdstown, WV | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| St. Francis CollegeBrooklyn, NY | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Touro UniversityNew York, NY | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MD | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA | 32 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Detroit MercyDetroit, MI | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington, NC | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA | 49 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of West FloridaPensacola, FL | 62 | n/a | n/a | $23,245 |
| Utah State UniversityLogan, UT | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Westcliff UniversityIrvine, CA | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Doctoral programs in computer software and media applications
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do computer software and media applications graduates earn?
Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $100,883 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.
How much debt do computer software and media applications graduate students take on?
The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $32,069 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.
Undergraduate: Computer Software and Media Applications major
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.