Location: San Francisco, CA•In-State Tuition: $28,024
Median Earnings (1yr)
$30,273
54th percentile
60th percentile in California
Median Debt
$34,000
90% above national median
D/E Ratio: 1.12 ElevatedSample: 34 graduates

Analysis

Academy of Art University's software and media program hits the California median for earnings but carries nearly double the typical debt load for this degree. That $34,000 debt burden ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of similar programs saddle graduates with less debt—while first-year earnings of $30,273 barely edge out the national median of $29,081.

The math here is straightforward: graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary, creating a financial squeeze right out of the gate. For an associate's degree in San Francisco—one of the country's most expensive cities—$30,273 doesn't stretch far, even as tech wages in the area typically run much higher. The program performs solidly against other California software and media programs (60th percentile), but that comparison offers limited comfort when the debt-to-earnings ratio sits at 1.12.

This program might work for students with substantial financial support who can minimize borrowing, but the typical graduate faces years of aggressive loan repayment on entry-level wages. Parents should calculate the total cost carefully and compare against community college alternatives or four-year programs that might justify higher debt with significantly better earnings outcomes.

Where Academy of Art University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer software and media applications associates's programs nationally

Academy of Art UniversityOther computer software and media applications programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Academy of Art University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Academy of Art University earns $30k — 54th percentile among computer software and media applications associates programs.

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Computer Software and Media Applications associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco$28,024$30,273—$34,0001.12
Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison$4,780$65,191—$16,6400.26
Dunwoody College of TechnologyMinneapolis$25,659$52,264$68,062$20,0000.38
Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeMinneapolis$6,128$38,262$48,999——
Portland Community CollegePortland$5,040$37,572$41,639$23,5700.63
Harrisburg Area Community CollegeHarrisburg$7,373$35,284—$17,5000.50
National Median—$29,081—$17,9370.62

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer software and media applications graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Effects Artists and Animators

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

$99,800/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web Developers

Develop and implement websites, web applications, application databases, and interactive web interfaces. Evaluate code to ensure that it is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers and devices. Optimize website performance, scalability, and server-side code and processes. May develop website infrastructure and integrate websites with other computer applications.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Academy of Art University, approximately 42% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 34 graduates with reported earnings and 49 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.