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Software Development at Valencia College

Orlando, FL · Public · Associate Degree · Computer Software and Media Applications

with 35,125 students enrolled in Orlando, FL.

Program Analysis

At $32,099/yr, Software Development graduates from Valencia College land near the $31,879 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 86.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 70% task exposure — and the 25% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Software Development graduates.

The median debt load of $15,280 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #3 out of 24 programs, Valencia College's Software Development program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $32,099 to $42,354 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

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

69 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
58
Low End
69
Score
72
High End
Earnings $32,099/yr (1% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (30% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (262,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$447K
7.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
90.4x
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)
$4,948
Out-of-state: $18,766
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,280
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,354
32% 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

Explore what Software Development graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 24 programs nationwide.

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 Valencia College

Nursing ($70,422) Dental Assisting ($57,535) Allied Health Professions ($56,945) IT Management ($45,819) Drafting & Design Technology ($45,701) Fire Protection ($45,657) Electrical Engineering Technology ($40,388) Accounting ($37,209)

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

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Software Development at Valencia College?
A score of 69/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Software Development field.
How vulnerable is Software Development to AI automation?
With 70% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $335,826 in decade earnings vs $447,215 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Why does Valencia College rank so high for Software Development?
Among 24 Software Development programs, Valencia College's #3 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Can I learn Software Development through an apprenticeship instead of Valencia College?
Beyond Valencia College's classroom route, 3 registered apprenticeships map to Software Development careers — including Data Scientist. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
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. Valencia College graduates enter a market shaped by ongoing digital transformation and technology adoption.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →