Computer Programming

35 schools compared · Average earnings $41,895/yr

What Computer Programming Graduates Do

Your career in computer programming is about building the digital world one line of code at a time. You’ll likely start as a software developer on a team, using tools like Git for code management and Jira for tasks. Your day will involve writing and debugging code in languages like Python or JavaScript to create new features for an application. Or, you might begin as a quality assurance analyst, methodically hunting for bugs, writing scripts to automate testing, and ensuring the final product is flawless.

With experience, you’ll advance from implementing features to designing them. You can become a senior developer tackling complex systems, a solutions architect mapping out entire software projects, or a team lead mentoring others. Demand is exceptionally strong, especially for software development roles. While entry-level pay is solid, experienced specialists and architects command significantly higher salaries.

It's true that AI is changing this field, automating many routine coding and testing tasks. This shift makes AI a powerful assistant, not a replacement. The core work of understanding user needs, designing elegant solutions, and collaborating to solve novel problems remains a fundamentally human skill. Successful programmers are learning to leverage these tools to build better software faster, focusing their energy on complex problem-solving and system design.

Schools Offering
35
Avg Grad Earnings
$41,895/yr
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
46/100
AI-Proof Rating
Exposed
36% of tasks AI-shielded

Best Schools for Computer Programming

Top 20 of 35 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

# School Score EarningsEarn ROI
1 University of Phoenix-Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
74
61–78
$60,496/yr 93.5x
2 Dallas College
Dallas, TX
74
65–78
$53,830/yr 112.6x
3 Dallas College
Dallas, TX
74
64–78
$43,727/yr 271.0x
4 Indian Hills Community College
Ottumwa, IA
71
62–75
$63,559/yr 72.4x
5 Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
71
58–75
$46,804/yr 100.5x
6 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Cincinnati, OH
70
58–75
$55,996/yr 73.9x
7 Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, WI
70
59–74
$54,652/yr 75.2x
8 Amarillo College
Amarillo, TX
70
61–74
$37,250/yr 173.4x
9 Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Minneapolis, MN
69
57–73
$55,069/yr 65.8x
10 Hillsborough Community College
Tampa, FL
68
60–72
$42,710/yr 84.2x
11 Valencia College
Orlando, FL
67
55–71
$36,601/yr 135.4x
12 Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, WI
66
54–70
$44,673/yr 65.4x
13 Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL
65
57–69
$39,098/yr 75.3x
14 Amarillo College
Amarillo, TX
64
52–69
$32,074/yr 135.2x
15 Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, GA
63
51–68
$35,284/yr 115.3x
16 University of Phoenix-California
Ontario, CA
61
52–65
$60,496/yr
17 Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls, SD
61
54–65
$53,874/yr 34.2x
18 Cuyahoga Community College District
Cleveland, OH
61
48–65
$33,937/yr 78.6x
19 Community College of Allegheny County
Pittsburgh, PA
60
53–64
$42,640/yr 43.0x
20 Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, WI
60
52–63
$41,728/yr 42.0x

Highest Earning Computer Programming Programs

Schools where Computer Programming graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

Best ROI for Computer Programming

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Computer Programming.

School ROI Multiple Earnings Score
Dallas College 271.0x $43,727/yr 74
Amarillo College 173.4x $37,250/yr 70
Valencia College 135.4x $36,601/yr 67
Amarillo College 135.2x $32,074/yr 64
Gwinnett Technical College 115.3x $35,284/yr 63
Dallas College 112.6x $53,830/yr 74
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City 100.5x $46,804/yr 71
University of Phoenix-Arizona 93.5x $60,496/yr 74
Hillsborough Community College 84.2x $42,710/yr 68
Cuyahoga Community College District 78.6x $33,937/yr 61

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Computer Programming degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Computer Programming graduates earn?
First-year earnings for Computer Programming graduates average $41,895 annually, based on data from 35 programs. The range spans $15,968 at the low end to $63,559 at the top.
How safe is Computer Programming from automation and AI?
Computer Programming is rated "Exposed" for AI resilience — 36% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means a moderate share of career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.
Where should I study Computer Programming?
University of Phoenix-Arizona leads all 35 programs with a TradeSchoolOutlook Score of 74/100. Graduates earn $60,496/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.
Is Computer Programming worth it?
Typical graduates earn 67.6 times what they paid in tuition within a decade. This is a strong return on investment. Look at per-school ROI in the table above — averages can mask significant variation.
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, DOL RAPIDS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →