Computer Programming
Computer Programming graduates earn an average annual wage of $132,874, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 538,880 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects. The field combines competitive wages with a large and growing workforce, making it an attractive option for students seeking strong career opportunities.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Computer Programming and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$32,480 Median In-State Public
$21,698 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Computer Programming majors are, on average, $32,480 for in-state public colleges, and $21,698 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Computer Programming programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
161 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Computer Programming from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Computer Programming.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern New Hampshire University | NH | 156,755 |
| 2 | Western Governors University | UT | 135,822 |
| 3 | University of Phoenix-Arizona | AZ | 76,996 |
| 4 | Grand Canyon University | AZ | 68,619 |
| 5 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | 54,926 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Computer Programming programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copper Mountain Community College | CA | $1,114 |
| 2 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 3 | Yuba College | CA | $1,128 |
| 4 | Laney College | CA | $1,148 |
| 5 | Berkeley City College | CA | $1,148 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Computer Programming programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry Ford College | MI | $576 |
| 2 | Cerritos College | CA | $693 |
| 3 | Durham Technical Community College | NC | $1,183 |
| 4 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | GA | $1,228 |
| 5 | West Shore Community College | MI | $1,335 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Computer Programming programs.
Graduation Rates
61.74% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
59.65% Average Graduation Rate
123 Institutions Reporting
46.86% - 72.86% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Computer Programming programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Computer Programming graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$132,874 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Computer Programming majors is $132,874.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Computer Programming majors.
Occupations by Share
538,880 2023 Workforce
The number of Computer Programming graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Computer Programming by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Computer Programming degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
$21,050 Median Student Debt
$51,673 Median Annual Earnings (10 years after enrollment)
40.74% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
4.1 years Estimated Payback Period (assuming 10% of income)
477.87% Return on Investment (10-year earnings vs 4-year cost)
This degree shows strong ROI, with 10-year earnings significantly exceeding the cost of education.
$89,420 Estimated Total Cost (4 years at median net price)
Financial value comparison for Computer Programming degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Computer Programming in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Computer Programming.
Age distribution for Computer Programming degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
Gender distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Gender distribution of Computer Programming degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
Race and ethnicity distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Racial and ethnic distribution of Computer Programming degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Computer Programming are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Computer Programming.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Computer Programming field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Computer Programming majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Computer Programming majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Computer Programming majors.
About
Computer Programming
In 2023, 161 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Computer Programming.
CIP Code
00.1102 - Computer Programming
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Return on Investment: Computer Programming offers an outstanding ROI of 478%, meaning graduates typically earn significantly more over 10 years than the total cost of their education. This makes it one of the most financially rewarding degree choices available.
High Earning Potential: Computer Programming graduates earn an average annual wage of $132,874, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.
Major Career Field: With over 538,880 professionals, Computer Programming represents one of the largest career fields in the United States. This substantial workforce size indicates strong employment opportunities and stability for graduates.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.