Best Computer Programming Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
47
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$34,674
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$16,610
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sinclair Community College
Grad rate: 31.2% |
OH | +$432,638 | $64,670 | $10,381 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Grad rate: 15.1% |
MN | +$406,998 | $65,758 | $18,826 | $22,600 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Grad rate: 18.2% |
OH | +$340,966 | $61,291 | $13,830 | $12,736 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Gwinnett Technical College
Grad rate: 29.1% |
GA | +$334,809 | $61,087 | $19,078 | $6,500 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
Grad rate: 28.9% |
MO | +$327,534 | $60,538 | $14,162 | $11,038 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Indian Hills Community College
Grad rate: 38.2% |
IA | +$287,272 | $58,651 | $14,774 | $12,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Missouri Southern State University
Grad rate: 37.0% |
MO | +$281,312 | $57,985 | $19,194 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Austin Community College District
Grad rate: 16.1% |
TX | +$235,220 | $56,218 | $11,156 | $19,872 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Fox Valley Technical College
Grad rate: 55.2% |
WI | +$233,339 | $56,164 | $15,647 | $13,812 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Cuyahoga Community College District
Grad rate: 27.0% |
OH | +$206,924 | $53,456 | $11,098 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
St Petersburg College
Grad rate: 37.9% |
FL | +$201,647 | $54,462 | $10,634 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
ECPI University
Grad rate: 47.8% |
VA | +$198,936 | $56,561 | $27,999 | $26,878 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Wake Technical Community College
Grad rate: 31.3% |
NC | +$189,064 | $53,133 | $16,798 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Waukesha County Technical College
Grad rate: 46.8% |
WI | +$181,438 | $52,500 | $14,281 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
New England Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 54.1% |
RI | +$147,620 | $55,337 | $48,445 | $16,466 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Valencia College
Grad rate: 44.2% |
FL | +$142,151 | $51,715 | $16,577 | $14,070 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Henry Ford College
Grad rate: 11.0% |
MI | +$118,417 | $49,941 | $9,983 | $15,138 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Northcentral Technical College
Grad rate: 47.5% |
WI | +$117,966 | $49,488 | $15,897 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Seminole State College of Florida
Grad rate: 42.6% |
FL | +$93,996 | $47,615 | $9,152 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Helena College University of Montana
Grad rate: 35.7% |
MT | +$88,014 | $48,150 | $17,493 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Essex County College
Grad rate: 18.3% |
NJ | +$87,938 | $47,579 | $11,821 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Grand Rapids Community College
Grad rate: 18.5% |
MI | +$83,007 | $48,732 | $16,255 | $14,165 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Pittsburgh Technical College
Grad rate: 53.4% |
PA | +$59,208 | $49,336 | $33,969 | $14,499 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Baker College
Grad rate: 22.9% |
MI | +$33,408 | $46,016 | $23,456 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Amarillo College
Grad rate: 28.9% |
TX | +$31,098 | $44,696 | $11,411 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Ranken Technical College
Grad rate: 51.2% |
MO | +$21,493 | $46,797 | $28,229 | $13,325 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Grad rate: 46.4% |
WI | +$8,434 | $45,265 | $16,283 | $18,000 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Lansing Community College
Grad rate: 20.8% |
MI | -$13,180 | $42,359 | $10,180 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Portland Community College
Grad rate: 17.8% |
OR | -$15,319 | $44,598 | $17,271 | $24,250 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Dallas College
Grad rate: 35.1% |
TX | -$20,357 | $43,425 | $9,641 | $21,908 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Kirkwood Community College
Grad rate: 37.9% |
IA | -$22,478 | $43,418 | $14,797 | $15,737 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Owens Community College
Grad rate: 29.4% |
OH | -$22,738 | $42,265 | $14,019 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
James A. Rhodes State College
Grad rate: 32.9% |
OH | -$47,998 | $40,957 | $13,569 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Itawamba Community College
Grad rate: 47.8% |
MS | -$113,754 | $37,468 | $11,557 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
University of Phoenix-Arizona
Grad rate: 18.7% |
AZ | -$130,078 | $37,441 | $19,449 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Central Ohio Technical College
Grad rate: 27.5% |
OH | -$132,428 | $36,813 | $14,344 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Holyoke Community College
Grad rate: 27.3% |
MA | -$144,799 | $36,841 | $13,587 | $10,700 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Chattahoochee Technical College
Grad rate: 38.9% |
GA | -$170,410 | $34,709 | $12,295 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Ozarks Technical Community College
Grad rate: 31.2% |
MO | -$174,459 | $35,478 | $12,540 | $14,029 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Lane Community College
Grad rate: 23.1% |
OR | -$189,578 | $34,236 | $17,149 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Kent State University at East Liverpool
Grad rate: 12.1% |
OH | -$289,664 | $30,423 | $15,070 | $20,729 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Kent State University at Geauga
Grad rate: 20.3% |
OH | -$289,974 | $30,423 | $15,225 | $20,729 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Kent State University at Salem
Grad rate: 20.1% |
OH | -$290,238 | $30,423 | $15,357 | $20,729 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Kent State University at Ashtabula
Grad rate: 19.2% |
OH | -$291,318 | $30,423 | $15,897 | $20,729 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Kent State University at Trumbull
Grad rate: 19.3% |
OH | -$291,842 | $30,423 | $16,159 | $20,729 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Kent State University at Tuscarawas
Grad rate: 31.0% |
OH | -$292,306 | $30,423 | $16,391 | $20,729 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
Kent State University at Kent
Grad rate: 65.1% |
OH | -$318,214 | $30,423 | $29,345 | $20,729 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Computer Programming Degrees by State
Browse Computer Programming programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.