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Computer Software and Media Applications at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College

New York, NY · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 16,850 in New York, NY.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $20,919/yr fall 34% below the $31,879 national median for Computer Software and Media Applications. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 30.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Computer Software and Media Applications programs nationally.

The 37% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 70% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Computer Software and Media Applications graduates.

Ranked #20 of 24 Computer Software and Media Applications programs, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $31,407 show a 50% jump from the $20,919 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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.

49 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
38
Low End
49
Score
52
High End
Earnings $20,919/yr (-34% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (30% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (262,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$345K
10.7% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
33.3x
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)
$10,340
Out-of-state: $16,100
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$31,407
50% growth from Year 1

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

View all 24 schools offering Computer Software and Media Applications →

Computer Software and Media Applications at Other Schools

Madison Area Technical College ($65,191) Dunwoody College of Technology ($52,264) Hunter Business School ($45,301) Dallas College ($41,477) Minneapolis Community and Technical College ($38,262) Portland Community College ($37,572) Visible Music College ($35,734) Harrisburg Area Community College ($35,284)

Other Majors at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($100,611) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($86,295) Community Organization and Advocacy ($33,854) Accounting and Related Services ($30,942) Engineering, General ($30,518) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($28,526) Physical Sciences ($26,948) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($26,582)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Computer Software and Media Applications degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Computer Software and Media Applications at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College?
A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Computer Software and Media Applications. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Should I worry about AI if I study Computer Software and Media Applications?
With 70% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $218,858 in decade earnings vs $344,682 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Computer Software and Media Applications from CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
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?
With approximately 262,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Computer Software and Media Applications offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →