Best Computer Software and Media Applications 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
46
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$54,652
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$35,556
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
University of Southern California
Grad rate: 92.2% |
CA | +$949,763 | $108,010 | $84,678 | $23,500 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Neumont College of Computer Science
Grad rate: 57.0% |
UT | +$690,204 | $84,311 | $39,004 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Florida Gulf Coast University
Grad rate: 57.3% |
FL | +$586,364 | $74,972 | $18,269 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Park University
Grad rate: 27.3% |
MO | +$463,277 | $71,244 | $23,714 | $19,812 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Rochester Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 71.5% |
NY | +$282,254 | $72,278 | $71,714 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Baker College
Grad rate: 22.9% |
MI | +$190,710 | $59,547 | $23,456 | $49,189 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Champlain College
Grad rate: 63.8% |
VT | +$169,650 | $64,905 | $63,000 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Grad rate: 54.5% |
ID | +$161,503 | $53,390 | $13,357 | $9,532 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Grad rate: 52.2% |
WI | +$157,958 | $56,044 | $21,618 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Franklin University
Grad rate: 37.4% |
OH | +$99,648 | $52,869 | $29,433 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Northwest Missouri State University
Grad rate: 55.6% |
MO | +$84,448 | $52,373 | $22,906 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
University of Phoenix-Texas
Grad rate: 12.2% |
TX | +$66,416 | $48,306 | N/A | $44,225 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
University of Phoenix-California
Grad rate: 21.4% |
CA | +$66,416 | $48,306 | N/A | $44,225 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
New England Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 54.1% |
RI | +$65,490 | $57,191 | $48,445 | $33,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Grad rate: 56.0% |
WI | +$32,695 | $49,079 | $18,804 | $24,940 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Academy of Art University
Grad rate: 42.4% |
CA | +$16,764 | $54,958 | $47,195 | $39,715 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
University of Phoenix-Arizona
Grad rate: 18.7% |
AZ | -$11,379 | $48,306 | $19,449 | $44,225 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Quinnipiac University
Grad rate: 77.3% |
CT | -$62,684 | $52,799 | $69,666 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
University of Houston
Grad rate: 64.0% |
TX | -$63,648 | $45,446 | $25,056 | $23,959 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
Grad rate: 38.3% |
CO | -$63,788 | $48,625 | $33,950 | $44,806 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Grad rate: 68.5% |
WA | -$86,943 | $43,524 | $24,462 | $14,500 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
School of Visual Arts
Grad rate: 74.4% |
NY | -$92,234 | $54,214 | $75,016 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Grad rate: 49.6% |
PA | -$105,666 | $45,150 | $32,595 | $28,360 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Grad rate: 84.0% |
WA | -$110,223 | $43,524 | $30,282 | $14,500 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Texas A&M University-College Station
Grad rate: 83.7% |
TX | -$115,604 | $44,050 | $32,085 | $20,937 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Purdue University-Main Campus
Grad rate: 83.1% |
IN | -$119,575 | $41,969 | $22,567 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 27 | Johnson & Wales University-Online | RI | -$124,630 | $42,664 | $25,365 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Utah Valley University
Grad rate: 40.0% |
UT | -$159,248 | $37,072 | $15,172 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Duquesne University
Grad rate: 76.6% |
PA | -$174,118 | $47,725 | $63,042 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Wilmington University
Grad rate: 21.0% |
DE | -$201,664 | $37,267 | $19,326 | $22,000 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Full Sail University
Grad rate: 45.0% |
FL | -$204,356 | $39,745 | $39,814 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
DeVry University-Ohio
Grad rate: 31.5% |
OH | -$244,446 | $33,075 | N/A | $48,849 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
DeVry University-Arizona
Grad rate: 31.4% |
AZ | -$244,446 | $33,075 | N/A | $48,849 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
DeVry University-Florida
Grad rate: 22.5% |
FL | -$244,446 | $33,075 | N/A | $48,849 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
DeVry University-Texas
Grad rate: 14.3% |
TX | -$244,446 | $33,075 | N/A | $48,849 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
DeVry University-New Jersey
Grad rate: 8.1% |
NJ | -$244,446 | $33,075 | N/A | $48,849 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Eastern Washington University
Grad rate: 48.4% |
WA | -$307,915 | $32,728 | $22,772 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Grad rate: 56.9% |
RI | -$316,350 | $39,671 | $58,330 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Lindenwood University
Grad rate: 52.3% |
MO | -$331,785 | $33,835 | $33,442 | $25,717 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
University of Advancing Technology
Grad rate: 42.0% |
AZ | -$346,072 | $30,967 | $31,353 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Dakota State University
Grad rate: 49.0% |
SD | -$351,378 | $31,143 | $24,447 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 42 | DeVry University-Virginia | VA | -$378,670 | $33,075 | $33,556 | $48,849 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
DeVry University-Illinois
Grad rate: 40.1% |
IL | -$396,526 | $33,075 | $38,020 | $48,849 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
DeVry University-Georgia
Grad rate: 19.4% |
GA | -$401,870 | $33,075 | $39,356 | $48,849 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
DeVry University-California
Grad rate: 18.2% |
CA | -$403,018 | $33,075 | $39,643 | $48,849 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Atlantic University
Grad rate: 35.4% |
PR | -$446,018 | $22,518 | $12,363 | $5,131 | 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 Software and Media Applications Degrees by State
Browse Computer Software and Media Applications programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.