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Software Development at Pittsburgh Technical College

Oakdale, PA · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree · Computer Software and Media Applications

with a smaller student body of 822 in Oakdale, PA.

Program Analysis

At $25,671 per year, Software Development graduates from Pittsburgh Technical College earn below the $31,879 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

At 7.8x the cost of tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 70% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Software Development graduates.

The $18,122 debt-to-$25,671 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #22 out of 24 programs, Pittsburgh Technical College's financial outcomes for Software Development trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $25,671 to $29,599 over five years (15% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

Software Development connects to 3 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

45 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
36
Low End
45
Score
48
High End
Earnings $25,671/yr (-19% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (30% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (262,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$303K
3.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
8.0x
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
$37,960
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,122
8.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$29,599
15% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Software Development 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 →

Software Development Career Guide

Software Development opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Software Development career guide →

Compare & Explore

Software Development Overview

View all 24 schools offering Software Development →

Software Development 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 Pittsburgh Technical College

Nursing ($66,387) Practical Nursing ($52,039) Electrical Engineering Technology ($50,876) Allied Health Professions ($44,704) Computer Engineering Technology ($43,851) Drafting & Design Technology ($41,991) HVAC Technology ($41,749) Precision Metalworking ($39,573)

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Compare Software Development degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Pittsburgh Technical College's Software Development program score?
A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Software Development. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI affect Software Development careers?
With 70% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $268,575 in decade earnings vs $302,883 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Why are Software Development earnings lower at Pittsburgh Technical 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.
Can I learn Software Development through an apprenticeship instead of Pittsburgh Technical College?
Yes — 3 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Software Development career paths, including Data Scientist. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Pittsburgh Technical College.
How many job openings are there for Software Development graduates?
With approximately 262,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Software Development offers a very large employment pool. Pittsburgh Technical College graduates enter a market shaped by ongoing digital transformation and technology adoption.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →