Computer Software Applications

Types of Degrees Computer Software Applications Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many computer software and applications graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	4,055
Master’s Degree	3,555
Basic Certificate	2,753
Associate Degree	2,266
Undergraduate Certificate	1,215
Graduate Certificate	483
Doctor’s Degree	9

What Computer Software Applications Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to computer software and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Computer Software Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in computer software should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Skills for Computer Software Majors

The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to computer software:

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities for Computer Software Majors

Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a computer software student include the following:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

What Can You Do With a Computer Software Applications Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with computer software:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Computer and Information Research Scientists	19.0%	$118,370
Database Administrators	11.5%	$90,070
Graphic Designers	4.2%	$50,370
Multimedia Artists and Animators	8.4%	$72,520
Software Developers, Applications	30.7%	$103,620
Web Developers	14.9%	$69,430

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Software Applications?

This is a less frequently chosen undergraduate major. Only 4,054 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer software and applications in 2021, making it rank #89 in popularity. This major tends to be male dominated. About 59% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of computer software majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	418
Black or African American	186
Hispanic or Latino	532
White	1,869
International Students	745
Other Races/Ethnicities	305

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Computer Software. About 18.4% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

• China
• India
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Saudi Arabia

How Much Do Computer Software Applications Majors Make?

Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary

The U.S. Department of Education found that students who graduated in 2017-2019 with a bachelor’s degree in computer software and applications made a median starting salary of $35,512 per year. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $29,529 (25th percentile) and $53,600 (75th percentile).

We don’t know for sure if all of these people took jobs related to computer software so take that into consideration.

Salaries According to BLS

Computer Software majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $75,580 to $108,080 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Computer Software Applications

Some degrees associated with computer software may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to computer software have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	0.7%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	2.6%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	4.2%
Some College Courses	8.0%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	8.2%
Bachelor’s Degree	64.4%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	0.7%
Master’s Degree	6.4%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	1.5%
Doctoral Degree	3.0%
Post-Doctoral Training	0.5%

Online Computer Software Applications Programs

In 2020-2021, 754 schools offered a computer software program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	266	32
Certificate (2-4 Years)	30	8
Associate’s Degree	394	46
Bachelor’s Degree	57	20
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	88	23
Post-Master’s	9	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	7	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Computer Software Applications Worth It?

The median salary for a computer software grad is $89,580 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 125% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $993,600 after 20 years!

Majors Related to Computer Software Applications

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to computer software.

Major	Number of Grads
Computer Information Systems	88,434
Computer Science	59,565
Information Technology	40,555
Information Science	18,325
Computer Systems Networking	14,700
Computer Programming	11,939
Computer Systems Analysis	2,338
Data Processing	1,955
Other Computer & Information Sciences	1,755
Data Entry	552

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Negative Space under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.