Data Processing
Data Processing graduates earn an average annual wage of $105,882, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 102,830 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 Data Processing and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$13,014 Median In-State Public
$16,480 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Data Processing majors are, on average, $13,014 for in-state public colleges, and $16,480 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Data Processing programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
84 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Data Processing from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Data Processing.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas College | TX | 41,815 |
| 2 | American Public University System | WV | 38,976 |
| 3 | Connecticut State Community College | CT | 32,292 |
| 4 | Purdue University Global | IN | 31,502 |
| 5 | College of Southern Nevada | NV | 27,790 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Data Processing programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southeast New Mexico College | NM | $1,176 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College | CA | $1,238 |
| 3 | Diablo Valley College | CA | $1,312 |
| 4 | Coalinga College | CA | $1,384 |
| 5 | Lemoore College | CA | $1,384 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Data Processing programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coastal Pines Technical College | GA | $124 |
| 2 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College | GA | $294 |
| 3 | Florence-Darlington Technical College | SC | $598 |
| 4 | Fort Scott Community College | KS | $665 |
| 5 | South Georgia Technical College | GA | $1,026 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Data Processing 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 Data Processing programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Data Processing graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$105,882 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Data Processing majors is $105,882.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Data Processing majors.
Occupations by Share
102,830 2023 Workforce
The number of Data Processing graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Data Processing by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Data Processing degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
$24,736 Median Student Debt
$38,427 Median Annual Earnings (10 years after enrollment)
64.37% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
This degree has a higher debt-to-earnings ratio. Consider financial aid options and career prospects.
6.4 years Estimated Payback Period (assuming 10% of income)
525.44% 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.
$61,440 Estimated Total Cost (4 years at median net price)
Financial value comparison for Data Processing degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Data Processing in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Data Processing.
Age distribution for Data Processing degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
Gender distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Gender distribution of Data Processing degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
Race and ethnicity distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Racial and ethnic distribution of Data Processing degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Data Processing are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Data Processing.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Data Processing field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Data Processing majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Data Processing 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 Data Processing majors.
About
Data Processing
In 2023, 84 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Data Processing.
CIP Code
00.1103 - Data Processing
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Return on Investment: Data Processing offers an outstanding ROI of 525%, 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: Data Processing graduates earn an average annual wage of $105,882, 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.
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.