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Computer Software Applications

Types of Degrees Computer Software Applications Majors Are Earning

Those studying Computer Software Applications may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	1,145
Associate’s Degree	2,255
Bachelor’s Degree	4,402
Master’s Degree	7,659
Doctor’s Degree	4

What Computer Software Applications Majors Need to Know

Studies in Computer Software Applications emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Computer Software Applications graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Computer Software Applications emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Computer Software Applications program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Active Learning — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Computer Software Applications careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Computer Software Applications graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.7 / 7
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.1 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Computer Software Applications professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
C++	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
C#	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
C	Development environment software	✓
Linux	Operating system software	✓
UNIX	Operating system software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Computer Software Applications graduates include:

• Data Analyst
• Web Programmer
• Instructor
• Professor
• Faculty Member
• Associate Professor
• Adjunct Instructor
• Assistant Professor
• Computer Technology Instructor
• Database Programmer
• Interface Designer
• Tableau Developer
• Data Engineer
• Lecturer
• Information Systems Professor (IS Professor)

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Computer Software Applications graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	56.1%
Master’s degree	15.9%
Doctoral degree	8.8%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	8.4%
Postsecondary certificate	3.0%
Some college courses	2.8%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.5%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.8%
Less than a high school diploma	0.6%
Post-doctoral training	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Computer Software Applications?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 45% women and 55% men among Computer Software Applications graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	7,007	45.0%
Men	8,574	55.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Computer Software Applications graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	5,996	38.5%
Asian	1,278	8.2%
Hispanic or Latino	2,407	15.4%
Black or African American	1,279	8.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	72	0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	23	0.1%
Two or More Races	540	3.5%
Race Unknown	563	3.6%
International Students	3,423	22.0%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Computer Software Applications Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Computer Software Applications graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$47,963
4 years	$41,500
5 years	$47,394

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $47,394 — roughly -1% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Computer Software Applications Programs

Fully online options are documented by IPEDS for Computer Software Applications. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	61	33
Bachelor’s	31	24
Master’s	16	17
Doctoral (Research)	1	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Computer Software Applications Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Computer Software Applications graduates earn a median of $41,500 four years after completion — roughly 9% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Computer Information Sciences	11
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other	11.99
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES	11.00
Computer and Information Sciences, General	11.01
Computer Programming	11.02
Computer Science	11.07
Computer Systems Analysis	11.05
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	11.09
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management	11.10
Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications	11.06
Data Processing	11.03
Information Science/Studies	11.04

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.