Computer Software and Media Applications at College of Western Idaho

Nampa, ID · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 5,898 in Nampa, ID.

Program Analysis

At $33,165/yr, Computer Software and Media Applications graduates from College of Western Idaho land near the $31,879 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 52.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Computer Software and Media Applications programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Computer Software and Media Applications's career paths, with 70% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $7,550 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #8 of 24 Computer Software and Media Applications programs, College of Western Idaho scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

There are 3 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Computer Software and Media Applications, including Data Scientist (median $112,590/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
56
Low End
63
Score
66
High End
Earnings $33,165/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (30% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (262,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$347K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
52.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
13 of 13
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$6,672
Out-of-state: $14,688
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,550
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Computer Software and Media Applications graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Computer and information systems managers $171,200 +15.2% 47%
Computer and information research scientists $140,910 +19.7% 37%
Database architects $135,980 +8.7% 6%
Computer and information systems managers
$171,200
+15.2% growth 47% AI-proof
Computer and information research scientists
$140,910
+19.7% growth 37% AI-proof
Database architects
$135,980
+8.7% growth 6% AI-proof

View all 13 career paths with full salary data →

About Computer Software and Media Applications Careers

Your career could begin as a software developer, where you’ll spend your days in a code editor like VS Code, writing Python or JavaScript and collaborating with a team to build and debug applications. Alternatively, you could focus on user experience as a web and digital interface designer, using tools like Figma to create wireframes and test how people interact with your layouts.

Read the full Computer Software and Media Applications career guide →

Compare & Explore

Computer Software and Media Applications Overview

Computer Software and Media Applications at Other Schools

Other Majors at College of Western Idaho

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Computer Software and Media Applications at College of Western Idaho?
At 63/100, College of Western Idaho's Computer Software and Media Applications program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How vulnerable is Computer Software and Media Applications to AI automation?
The 70% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
How affordable is Computer Software and Media Applications at College of Western Idaho?
Median debt of just $7,550 against $33,165/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Computer Software and Media Applications graduates?
Computer Software and Media Applications connects to 3 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Computer Software and Media Applications workers?
The career paths mapped to Computer Software and Media Applications have roughly 262,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →